IK-V 


RECOLLECTIONS 


OF 


GENERAL  LAFAYETTE 


ON    HIS 


VISIT  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

IN  1824  AND  1825; 


WITH    THE 


MOST  KEMARKABLE  INCIDENTS  OF  HIS  LIFE, 


FROM    HIS    BIRTH    TO    THE    DAY    OF    HIS    DEATH. 


BY  A.  A.  PAKKEK,  ESQ., 

AUTHOR  OF  "TRIP  TO  THE  WEST  AND  TEXAS;"  "POEMS  AT 
FOURSCORE,"  &C. 


" Though  lost  to  sight,  to  memory  dear," 


KEENE,  N.  H.  : 
SENTINEL    PRINTING    COMPANY,    BOOK    AND    JOB    PRINTERS. 

1879. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1879,  by 

A.  A.  PARKER, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


My  Recollections  of  General  Lafayette's  visit  to  this 
country  in  1824  and  '25,  were  narrated  in  the  State  House 
at  Concord,  N.  H.,  at  the  request  of  the  Historical  So- 
ciety. It  was  merely  an  extemporary  affair,  as  I  had 
nothing  then  written  before  me.  I  was  requested  to  write 
out,  at  my  leisure,  my  Recollections  for  publication,  with 
such  emendations  and  additions  as  the  subject  seemed  to 
require.  This,  I  have  done  ;  and  the  result  will  be  found 
in  the  following  pages.  I  have  corresponded  extensively 
and  searched  records,  so  as  to  give  a  connected  Sketch  of 
his  eventful  life,  from  his  birth  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

My  object  has  been  to  snatch  from  oblivion  and  garner 
up  the  most  remarkable  events  in  the  life  of  a  most 
remarkable  man,  so  that  the  present  generation  may  be 
well  informed  of  the  true  character  of  one  of  our  most 
patriotic  Major  Generals  in  the  American  Revolution. 
Much  interesting  matter  is  here  presented,  never  before 
published ;  a  large  portion  of  which  was  obtained  from 
the  General  himself.  On  his  visit  here,  it  was  my  good 
fortune  to  become  acquainted  with  him,  and  learn  from 
his  own  lips,  his  opinion  of  men  and  things,  and  many 
remarkable  incidents  in  his  life.  I  was  then,  as  now,  a 
great  admirer  of  his  character ;  for  I  deem  him  to  have 


been  one  of  the  most  brave,  active  and  faultless  men,  of 
whom  we  have  any  account  in  ancient  or  modern  history. 

The  preparation  of  this  Sketch,  has  been  a  labor  of 
love  ;  and  while  I  have  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  times, 
I  have  endeavored  to  be  entirely  correct ;  and  believe  its 
integrity  cannot  successfully  be  impeached  ;  but  that  in  all 
its  essential  particulars,  it  will  stand  the  test  of  talents 
and  of  time. 

In  this  Sketch,  I  have  uniformly  applied  the  title  of 
GENEBAL,  to  Lafayette,  as  he  publicly  renounced  that  of 
Marquis,  at  the  time  of  the  French  revolution. 


In  the  Frontispiece  will  be  found  a  steel  engraving  of 
General  Lafayette.  It  was  taken  from  a  portrait  painting 
of  him  in  1824,  at  the  age  of  67.  It  is  a  most  perfect 
likeness.  At  the  bottom  is  his  autograph. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

General  Lafayette's  First  Visit  to  America,  accom- 
panied by  Baron  DeKalb,  .          .          .          .10 
Arrives  at  Philadelphia,  and  appointed  Maj. -General,    11 
Returns  to  France,  and  Second  Visit,      .          .          .12 

Lafayette's  Third  Visit, 13 

Receptions  at  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
and  Mount  Vernon,  .          .          .          .          .14 

Reception  at  Boston  ;  takes  leave  of  Congress,          .     15 
His  Fourth  and  Last  Visit,    .          .          .          ,          .16 
Reception  at  New  York  City,          .          .          .          .18 

Reception  at  Boston,     .          .          .          .          .          .20 

Reception  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,    .          .          .          .27 

Returns  to  Boston  and  to  New  York  City ;    great 
display  there,    .          .          .          .          .          .          .29 

Goes  up  the  Hudson  River  and  Returns,  .          .32 

Visits  Washington  City,          .          .          .          .          .32 

Visits  Mount  Vernon,  Yorktown,  Richmond,  Mon- 

ticello,  &c., 33 

Returns  to  Washington  City  and  visits  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives,    .          .          .          .34 

Congress    grants    him  $200,000  in    money,    and    a 
township  of  land,       ......      35 

Visits  the  Southern  and  Western  States,  .          .     35 

Lays  the  corner  stone  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument,     .     36 
Visits  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  incidents  of  the  route,          .     47 

Visits  Portland,  in  Maine, 50 

Returns  to  Concord  and  leaves  for  New  York  and 
Washington  City,  and  takes  passage  in  the  ship 
Brandy  wine,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .53 


6 

Reflections  on  his  visits,  .  .  .  .  .56 
Conversations  with  Gen.  Lafayette,  .  .  • .  57 
The  treason  of  Gen.  Arnold;  Maj.  Andre,  .  .  64 
Gen.  Arnold's  wife,  .  ,  .  .  .  .70 

The  French  Revolution ;  General  Lafayette  leaves 

France  and  is  imprisoned,  .  .  .  .72 

Escapes  from  his  dungeon  at  Olmutz  ;  is  retaken  and 

again  imprisoned,       .          .          .          .          .          .78 

Dr.  Bollman  and  Col.  Huger,         .          .          .          .79 

Blannerhassett  and  Col.  Burr,         .          .          .          .80 

Gen.  Lafayette's  wife  and  two  daughters  visit  him  in 

prison,      ........      82 

Released  by  Bonaparte,  and  retires  to  Holstein,  in 

Denmark,          .......     84 

Returns  to  Lagrange,  in  France ;  Death  of  Madame 

Lafayette,          .......     84 

Gen.  Lafayette's  birth  and  childhood,      .          .          .87 
Death  of  his  mother,  and  his  marriage,  .          .          .88 
Description  of  his  person,    •  .          .          .          .          .89 

His  death,  .          .          .          ...          .          .90 

His  benevolence  ;  bought  an  estate  and  liberated  the 

slaves,  .......     91 

Presents  made  to  Lafayette,  .  .  .  .  .92 

His  liberality,  . 93 

His  bravery  and  firmness,  .  .  .  .  .94 
Description  of  Lagrange,  .  .  .  .  .95 
George  Washington  Lafayette,  .  ' .  .  .98 
Gen.  Lafayette's  daughters,  .  .  .  .  101 

Proposed  monument  in  memory  of  Lafayette,  .  102 

Public  and  private  buildings  in  Concord,  .  .  104 
Address  to  the  youths  of  America,  .  .  .  105 

Reception  at  Hudson,  .....  106 

Mrs.  Willard's  school  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  .  .  .  108 
Reception  at  the  Livingstons',  ....  109 
Reception  at  Xewark,  N.  J.,  .  .  .  .110 


Reception  at  Philadelphia,      .          .          .          .          .112 
Reception  at  Baltimore,          .  .          .          .116 

Address  of  Speaker  Clay,      .          .          .          .          .119 
Gen.  Lafayette's  reply,  .          .          .          .          .121 

Farewell  address  of  President  J.  Q.  Adams,   .          .   123 
Gen.  Lafayette's  reply,  .          .          .          .          .127 

The  closing  scene,          .          .          .          .          «          .129 
' '  Ladies'  Mount  Vernon  Association "  purchase  the 
home  of  Washington  with  200  acres  of  land  for 

$200,000, 133 

Edward  Everett's  lecture  on  Washington,         .          .   133 
Major  Andre  ;  sketch  of  his  life,    ....   134 

His  execution,      .......   142 

Cyrus  W.   Field  erects  a  shaft  at  the   spot  where 
Andre  was  buried,     .          .          .          .          .          .143 

Epitaph  on  the  shaft,    .          .          .          .          .          .144 

Captain  Nathan  Hale,   .          .          .          .          .          .146 

Taken  as  a  spy  and  executed,          ....   147 

Reflections  on  war,        ......   148 


TAUAVFTTI? 
LArAlmlJl, 

AND  SKETCH  OF  HIS  LIFE. 


The  great  English  poet  asks,  What's  in  a  NAME  ?  I 
answer,  MUCH.  •  Names  are  often,  not  only  music  to  the 
ear,  but  expressive  of  power,  and  suggestive  of  noble  men 
and  glorious  deeds.  And  when  I  announce  LAFAYETTE, 
as  the  theme  of  my  discourse,  is  it  not  suggestive  of  a 
Statesman,  Patriot  and  Warrior,  who  most  nobly  wielded 
his  sword  and  pen,  and  gave  of  his  substance  liberally,  in 
the  cause  of  human  rights,  and  bravely  fought  the  battles 
of  our  Revolution  ? 

Permit  me  then,  standing  on  the  verge  of  time,  be- 
tween the  living  and  the  dead,  to  call  your  attention  to 
one  of  the  most  exciting  scenes  in  the  annals  of  our  his- 
tory since  the  days  of  our  revolution.  In  1824,  more 
than  half  a  century  ago,  The  MARQUIS  GILBERT  MO- 
TIER  DE  LAFAYETTE,  for  the  Fourth  Time,  visited  the 
United  States.  His  arrival  was  hailed  with  universal  joy 
throughout  the  land  ;  and  he  passed  through  the  twenty- 
four  States  of  the  Union,  in  a  round  of  civic  and  martial 
triumphs,  unequalled  in  magnificence  and  splendor.  Dur- 
ing that  visit,  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  become  acquainted 
with  him,  and  to  witness  some  of  the  most  splendid  dis- 
plays on  that  occasion  ;  and  I  propose  now  to  relate  my 
recollections  of  what  I  saw  and  heard,  in  the  order  of 
2 


10 

events,  rather  than  in  the  order  I  obtained  knowledge  of 
them.  If  the  narration  should  be  deemed  too  mueh  bor- 
dering on  the  sentimental,  and  withal,  too  egotistical,  I 
cannot  avoid  it,  without  mystifying  events  and  perverting 
facts.  Enthusiastic  I  must  be,  for  my  subject  demands 
it.  But  in  the  first  place,  allusion  to  his  former  visits 
may  be  interesting  and  proper  as  introductory  to  the  last. 

The  First  Time  Gen.  Lafayette  visited  this  country  was 
in  1777 ,  about  a  year  after  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. When  his  intention  of  aiding  the  Colonies  in  their 
struggle  for  independence  was  suspected,  or,  to  some  ex- 
tent known,  it  caused  a  great  sensation  both  in  England 
and  France.  The  British  Minister  at  Paris  so  warmly 
protested  against  it  that  the  King  of  France  was  induced 
to  issue  an  order  for  his  arrest ;  but  he  had  the  sagacity 
to  elude  all  pursuit,  ordered  his  vessel  to  an  obscure  port 
in  Spain,  where  he  embarked,  and  from  thence  sailed  for 
the  American  coast. 

When  he  fitted  out  his  own  ship,  freighted  with  arms 
and  munitions  of  war,  it  was  the  most  gloomy  time  in  the 
revolutionary  'war.  The  British  armies  were  everywhere 
triumphant,  so  much  so,  that  even  the  firmness  of  Gen. 
Washington  was  shaken.  Lafayette's  friends  urged  him 
to  desist  from  such  a  hopeless  undertaking,  but  he  gal- 
lantly replied  that  it  was  the  very  time  his  aid  was  most 
needed. 

After  a  devious  and  tedious  voyage  of  more  than  two 
months,  for  he  had  to  avoid  the  numerous  British  cruisers 
on  the  American  coast,  on  the  14th  of  June,  1777,  he 
landed  at  Winyau  Bay,  on  the  South  Carolina  coast,  60 
miles  Xortheast  of  Charleston.  lie  was  accompanied 
by  his  friend,  the  Baron  de  Kaib,  a  German  officer  of 
rank  ;  and  when  their  boat  touched  the  shore  at  midnight, 
they  both  pledged  themselves  before  high  Heaven,  to  win 
Independence  or  perish  in  the  attempt.  And  they  most 


11 

nobly  redeemed  their  pledge  ;  for  they  both  most  bravely 
fought  the  battles  of  the  Revolution.  Gen.  Lafayette 
passed  through  all  the  severe  conflicts  with  only  a  flesh 
wound,  but  the  Baron  was  less  fortunate,  for,  after  three 
years  of  hard  fiii'liting,  he  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cam- 
den,  in  North  Carolina,  August  16,  1780,  and  was  taken 
from  the  field  with  eleven  wounds  on  his  body. 

They  were,  at  first,  very  hospitably  entertained  at  the 
mansion  house  of  Maj.  Benjamin  linger,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Charleston.  They  procured  a  carriage  and 
started  for  Philadelphia  together.  Their  route  lay  through 
the  principal  towns,  yet  the  roads  were  so  bad  that  the 
carriage  soon  became  a  wreck,  and  they  finished  their 
journey  on  horseback. 

General  Lafayette's  arrival,  at  that  critical  moment, 
caused  no  ordinary  sensation  throughout  the  country.  It 
was  hailed  as  a  happy  omen,  and  gave  a  new  impulse  to 
the  revolutionary  struggle. 

Although  he  was  then  a  mere  youth,  hardly  twenty 
years  of  age  ;  yet,  so  active  and  patriotic  was  he,  that 
Congress,  on  the  31st  of  July,  1777 ,  appointed  him  a 
Major-General  in  the  Continental  Army.  As  there  was 
no  vacancy  at  the  time,  no  particular  command  could  be 
assigned  him  ;  but  he  was  invited  to  the  headquarters  of 
Gen.  Washington,  and  became  an  inmate  of  his  family, 
and  acted  as  his  aid,  companion  and  friend  during  the 
war,  when  not  assigned  to  a  separate  command. 

On  the  llth  of  September,  less  than  a  month  and  a 
half  after  his  appointment,  was  fought  the  battle  of 
Brandywine ;  and  then,  his  shrewdness,  activity  and 
bravery  fully  justified  his  appointment;  for  it  was  readily 
perceived  that  he  had,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  three  es- 
sential attributes  of  a  successful  warrior  ;  for  he  was  quick 
to  perceive,  sagacioiif  to  plan,  and  prompt  to  execute. 
In  that  battle  he  was  wounded,  and  had  to  be  confined  for 


12 

a  time  in  a  hospital ;  but  it  was  the  only  time  lie  was  dis- 
abled from  active  duty  during  the  perils  of  the  Revolution. 

On  the  llth  day  of  February,  1779,  he  returned  to 
France  to  obtain  men,  money  and  munitions  of  war.  Being 
successful  in  that,  he  returned  here  a  Second  Time,  on  the 
27th  of  April,  1780,  and  rendered  very  efficient  aid  in 
many  battles  and  skirmishes,  until  the  surrender  of  Lord 
Cornwallis,  at  Yorktown,  on  the  19th  of  October,  1781. 

Deeming  the  back  of  British  power  in  America  broken, 
and  that  a  bold  dash  would  finish  it,  on  the  22d  of  De- 
cember, 1781,  he  again  returned  to  France  for  an  army 
of  men  and  ships  of  war.  He  induced  the  King  of  Spain 
as  well  as  of  France,  to  second  his  wishes  ;  and,  in  time, 
had  obtained  60  ships  of  war  and  enlisted  24,000  men, 
which  began  to  assemble  at  Cadiz,  destined  to  crush  Brit- 
ish power  in  America  as  well  as  in  the  West  Indies. 

Then  the  King  of  England  and  his  ministers  took  the 
alarm,  began  to  realize  their  danger,  and  acknowledged 
our  independence  and  concluded  a  peace.  On  the  20th 
day  of  January,  1783,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  finally 
concluded  and  signed  at  Paris. 

General  Lafayette  was  then  at  Cadiz,  preparing  to  sail 
for  America  and  bring  the  joyful  news  of  peace  ;  but 
finding  some  diplomatic  difficulties  in  Spain  which  he  was 
requested  to  adjust,  and  seeing  the  need  of  a  commercial 
treaty  between  the  United  States  and  France,  in  which  he 
believed  his  services  were  needed,  he  deemed  it  his  duty 
to  remain.  But  he  procured  a  fast  sailing  ship  of  war, 
called  the  Triumph,  (an  appropriate  name  for  the  occa- 
sion,) and  sent  the  despatches,  with  a  letter  to  Congress 
and  to  General  Washington,  bearing  the  joyful  tidings  of 
peace.  The  Triumph  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  the  23d 
day  of  March,  1783,  and  gave  to  Congress  and  the  Nation 
the  first  news  of  peace. 

Congress  passed  strong  resolutions  in  commendation  of 


13 

the  great  services  of  General  Lafayette  ;  and  Washing- 
ton, in  a  letter  to  him,  said  :  "  To  this  cause,  (alluding 
to  the  armament  of  Lafayette),  I  am  persuaded  the  peace 
is  to  be  ascribed."  , 

Although  Gen.  Lafayette  was  earnestly  and  most  cor- 
dially invited  to  visit  this  country,  by  Congress  and  Gen. 
Washington,  he  forebore  the  pleasure  until  he  had  settled 
other  matters  of  more  pressing  importance.  He  went  to 
Spain  and  settled  the  difficulties  there,  and  then  returned 
to  Paris,  and  was  the  leading  spirit  in  forming  a  commer- 
cial treaty  between  the  two  countries.  This  was  a  work 
of  time,  involving  so  many  conflicting  interests,  that  it 
was  not  fully  completed  in  all  its  details  for  more  than  a 
year. 

On  his  Third  Visit  to  America,  he  came  in  the  royal 
frigate  La  Nymphe,  and  landed  at  New  York  city  on  the 
4th  day  of  August,  1784.  It  so  happened,  that  in  the 
whole  of  the  Revolution,  he  had  never  been  in  the  city  of 
New  York ;  and  its  citizens,  as  if  to  make  up  for  lost 
time,  gave  him  a  most  splendid  reception.  Among  the 
many  great  attentions  shown  him,  was  a  grand  entertain- 
ment the  next  day  after  his  arrival,  at  which  his  comrades 
in  arms  appeared  in  uniform  in  honor  of  the  occasion. 

He  entered  the  city  of  Philadelphia  with  the  shouts  of 
the  multitude,  ringing  of  bells  and  firing  of  cannon. 
Generals  Wayne,  Irwin  and  St.  Clair  were  deputed  to 
congratulate  him  on  his  arrival  and  welcome  him  to  the 
city.  The  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  then  in  session, 
voted  him  a  flattering  address,  and  the  citizens  at  large 
vied  with  each  other  to  do  him  honor. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  he  left  Philadelphia,  staid  a 
short  time  in  Baltimore,  and  arrived  at  Mount  Vernon, 
the  seat  of  General  Washington,  on  the  19th.  An  ac- 
count of  this  interview  between  such  long-tried  and  cordial 
friends,  that  I  may  not  be  accused  of  bordering  too  much 


14 

on  the  sentimental,  I  give  in  the  eloquent  words  of  an- 
other :  ' '  When  we  reflect  upon  the  principal  events  in 
the  lives  of  these  two  illustrious  men — the  difference  in 
their  ages  and  countries — the  distance  which  separated 
them  from  each  other — the  circumstances  which  brought 
them  together — the  importance  of  the  scenes  through 
wliich  they  had  passed — the  glorious  success  of  their 
courageous  efforts — their  mutual  anxiety  again  to  embrace 
each  other — the  tender  and  truly  paternal  esteem  of  the 
one,  and  the  respect,  admiration  and  filial  attachment  of 
the  other — when  we  reflect  upon  all  this,  we  find  that 
everything  contributed  to  stamp  this  interesting  interview 
with  a  sublimity  of  character  which  had  no  prototype  in 
the  annals  of  men." 

Twelve  blissful  days  were  spent  at  Mount  Vernon,  and 
then  he  went  to  the  North,  and  aided  in  the  negotiations 
with  the  Indians  at  Fort  Schuyler.  The  Indians  believed 
in  "  Kayewla,"  as  they  called  Lafayette,  took  his  advice 
and  made  peace  with  the  whites.  After  making  presents 
to  the  Chiefs,  he  left  them,  with  a  treaty  fully  ratified, 
and  proceeded,  through  Albany,  Hartford  and  Worcester, 
to  Boston.  Enthusastic  demonstrations  awaited  him  all 
along  the  route ;  but  it  was  at  Boston  that  he  had  the 
most  splendid  triumph.  A  magnificent  military  proces- 
sion, bearing  the  flags  of  America  and  France,  with  a 
vast  multitude  of  citizens,  escorted  him  into  the  metropo- 
lis, and  through  the  principal  streets,  amid  th<5  ringing  of 
bells,  firing  of  cannon,  and  shouts  of  the  multitude. 
Illuminations  in  his  honor  and  fireworks  on  the  Common 
were  the  order  of  the  night. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  the  anniversary  of  the  surren- 
der of  Lord  Cornwallis,  a  grand  dinner  was  given  at  the 
City  Hotel.  A  grand  procession  was  formed,  composed 
of  the  Governor,  Council  and  members  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, accompanied  by  the  old  continental  officers,  soldiers 


15 

and  citizens,  under  escort  of  military  companies,  and 
proceeded  to  the  great  saloon  of  the  Hotel,  where  enter- 
tainment had  been  provided  for  five  hundred  persons. 
Thirteen  arcades  were  thrown  across  the  Hall,  emblemati- 
cal of  the  thirteen  States  of  the  Union.  Lafayette  was 
seated  beneath  the  centre  arch,  where  a  wreath  of  flowers 
was  suspended.  After  dinner  thirteen  toasts  were  drank, 
and  each  one  was  enthusiastically  cheered  by  the  band  of 
music  and  thirteen  guns  in  State  Street.  When  the  health 
of  Washington  was  announced  as  the  last  toast,  a  curtain 
immediately  fell  and  disclosed  a  portrait  of  him,  encircled 
by  laurels  and  decorated  with  the  flags  of  America  and 

•*  O 

France.  Lafayette  arose  and  gazed  at  it  with  a  look  of 
pleasure  and  surprise,  when  a  voice  exclaimed,  "  LONG 
LIVE  WASHINGTON  !"  The  effect  was  electrical — all  arose 
as  one  man — shouts  of  '•'•Long  live  Washington"  re- 
sounded throughout  the  Hall,  and  in  that  enthusiastic 
manner  the  feast  ended. 

From  Boston,  he  visited  the  towns  of  Salem,  Marble- 
head,  Gloucester,  Beverley,  Ipswich-,  Xewburyport  and 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.  Returning  to  Boston,  he  embarked 
again  in  the  La  Nymphe,  which  had  come  round  from 
New  York,  and  sailed  away  to  the  theatre  of  his  greatest 
glory,  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  He  landed  at  Yorktown,  and 
it  was  with  no  ordinary  emotions  he  viewed  the  scenes 
of  one  of  the  greatest  struggles  for  American  independ- 
ence. It  was  in  Virginia  that  he  had  baffled  the  manoeu- 
vres of  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  bravest  Gen- 
erals of  Europe,  and  finally  compelled  him  to  surrender 
with  his  whole  army  and  munitions  of  war. 

From  Yorktown,  he  proceeded  to  Williamsburg,  where 
he  received  a  most  cordial  reception,  and  on  the  18th  of 
November  entered  the  city  of  Richmond ;  and  here  he 
met  with  a  reception  transcending,  if  possible,  all  former 
displays.  Gen.  Washington  was  in  waiting  for  him  here. 


16 

and  after  receiving  the  enthusiastic  congratulations  of  the 
Legislature  and  citizens,  he  accompanied,  once  more,  his 
venerable  and  revered  friend  to  the  shades  of  Mount  Ver- 
non.  After  staying  there  about  a  week,  and  visiting 
Alexandria,  they  proceeded  to  Annapolis,  and  here,  they 
took  an  affectionate  leave  of  each  other.  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, not  satisfied  with  this  one  leave-taking,  on  his  return 
home,  wrote  him  a  farewell  letter,  bordering  more  on  the 
sentimental  than  any  other  of  his  numerous  correspon- 
dence. They  never  met  again,  but  corresponded  with 
each  other  until  the  death  of  Washington,  in  1799. 

Journeying  Northward,  he  took  leave  of  Congress,  then 
in  session  at  Trenton.  Mr.  Jay,  as  Chairman  of  a  Con- 
gressional Committee,  presented  the  resolutions  of  that 
body,  with  an  impassioned  address  of  his  own ;  to  which, 
Gen.  Lafayette  exclaimed:  "May  this  immense  temple 
of  freedom  ever  stand,  a  lesson  to  the  oppressed,  and  a 
sanctuary  for  the  rights  of  mankind."  Patriotism  now, 
with  a  voice  that  seems  to  wake  the  dead,  utters  the  same 
invocation  throughout  our  wide  and  extended  domain ,  and 
rejoices  that  it  has  withstood  the  shock  of  one  of  the  most 
gigantic  rebellions  ever  known  among  men. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1784,  he  embarked  at  Xew 
York,  on  board  the  La  Nymphe,  which  had  come  round 
to  that  port  to  receive  him,  sailed  for  France,  and  arrived 
in  Paris  on  the  25th  of  January,  1785. 

In  1824,  just  forty  years  after  he  had  taken  his  leave  of 
Washington,  he  paid  his  Fourth,  and  Laxt  Vixit,  to  this 
country.  When  he  signified  his  intention  of  visiting  his 
American  friends,  President  Munroe,  authorized  by  Con- 
gress, tendered  him  a  national  ship.  This,  he  declined, 
alleging  that,  as  he  came  in  no  official  capacity,  but  as  a 
private  citizen,  he  preferred  to  embark  in  a  merchant 
packet  ship. 

When  his  intention  of  visiting  this  country  was  known 


17 

in  France,  it  became  manifest  to  him  that  the  king,  Louis 
XVIII.,  was  opposed  to  the  movement,  and  would  pre- 
vent it  if  he  could  find  any  plausible  pretext  for  so  doing. 
For  the  king  was  well  aware  that  his  visit  would  occasion 
many  public  patriotic  speeches,  which  would  be  reported, 
and  published  in  France,  and  cause  discontent  among  the 
people,  and  perhaps,  danger  to  the  throne  itself.  There- 
fore, it  was,  when  he  arrived  at  Havre,  and  made  prepar- 
ations to  embark,  he  was  beset  by  a  large  police  force, 
who  harrassed  his  steps ;  and  when  anyone  made  any 
demonstration  of  joy  at  his  presence,  he  was  at  once  ar- 
rested and  imprisoned.  He  felt  that  he  was  watched,  and 
had  he  made  any  address  to  the  crowd,  would  have  been 
arrested  and  prevented  from  visiting  this  country  at  all. 
He,  therefore,  said  not  a  word,  but  waved  his  hand  to 
the  people  and  quietly  embarked. 

It  was  in  the  American  packet  ship,  Cadmus,  Capt. 
Allyn,  that  he  embarked  ;  and  after  a  pleasant  voyage  of 
thirty-one  days,  he  arrived  at  the  port  of  New  York,  on 
the  14th  day  of  August,  1824.  It  was  Sunday,  and  by 
invitation  of  Vice-President  Thompkins,  he  landed  at 
Staten  Island  and  spent  the  Sabbath  with  him. 

On  Monday  morning,  he  arose  early  and  walked  out  to 
exercise  his  limbs  on  shore.  It  was  a  beautiful  day.  The 
sun  rose  bright  and  clear  in  the  East.  On  turning  to 
look  in  the  opposite  direction,  he  beheld  a  beautiful,  high 
arched  rainbow  over  the  land  in  the  West.  He  hailed  it 
as  a  happy  omen,  and  deemed  it  to  be  a  bow  of  welcome 
MS  well  as  of  promise.  But  when  he  saw  the  fleet  of 
steamers  coming  to  escort  him  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
lit'  was  amazed  at  what  he  beheld.  There  was  a  squadron 
of  eight  steamers — the  Chancellor  Livingston,  Bellona, 
Connecticut,  Oliver  Ellsworth,  Henry  Eckford,  Nautilus, 
Olive  Branch,  and  the  steam  frigate  Robert  Fulton — all 
gaily  dressed  for  the  occasion  ;  with  bands  of  music,  flags 
3 


18 

flying,  and  filled  with  joyous  ladies  and  gentlemen.  On 
reaching  the  shore,  the  Fulton  gave  a  national  salute, 
flags  waved  as  well  as  ladies'  white  handkerchiefs,  the 
bands  of  music  saluted  and  the  men  shouted  a  welcome. 
The  General  was  shouted  aboard  the  steamer  Chancellor 
Livingston  ;  two  others  grappled  the  ship  Cadmus,  took 
it  in  tow,  and  then  all  turned  their  prows  to  the  city  of 
New  York,  some  ten  miles  away.  It  was  a  most  beauti- 
ful day,  and  when  this  flotilla  of  steamers  started,  led  by 
the  Chancellor  Livingston,  salutes,  shouts  and  cheers 
awakened  the  echoes  along  the  shore,  and  the  big  guns  of 
Brooklyn  uttered  their  deep  toned  voices  across  the  water, 
and  made  the  steamers  tremble  as  they  passed. 

On  landing  at  the  Battery,  he  was  met  by  a  multitude 
that  no  man  could  number,  introduced  to  many  citizens, 
partook  of  some  refreshment  at  Castle  Garden,  and  then 
took  a  seat  with  Gen.  Morton  in  an  open  barouche  and 
proceeded  up  Broadway  to  be  introduced  to  the  Mayor  at 
the  City  Hall.  As  he  proceeded,  he  cast  a  look  above  and 
:i round  him,  and  such  a  gorgeous  display  he  had  seldom 
or  never  witnessed,  even  in  excitable  France.  He  there 
beheld  triumphal  arches,  flags  suspended  across  the  street, 
joyous  men,  women  ami  children,  on  house  tops,  bal- 
i-onies,  and  in  windows,  on  sidewalks  and  in  the  streets  ; 
bands  of  music  playing,  bells  ringing,  men  shouting  and 
women  waving  their  handkerchiefs ;  and  then  flowers, 
in  bouquets  and  wreaths,  came  showering  down  from  all 
quarters,  so  that  the  horses  at  times  literally  "walked  on 
flowers  ;"  made  such  a  display,  in  extent  so  unexpected, 
and  in  such  contrast  to  the  manner  of  his  leaving  France, 
that  he  was  completely  overwhelmed  ;  and,  on  reaching 
City  Hall,  had  to  step  aside  into  an  ante-room  to  wipe 
away  his  tears,  and  compose  himself  before  entering  the 
audience  hall. 

As  he  had  promised  a  flying  visit  to  Boston  to  see  his 


19 

revolutionary  friends,  before  paying  his  respects  to  the 
General  Government  at  Washington,  he  stayed  only  four 
days  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Supposing  he  was  to  fur- 
nish his  own  conveyance  to  Boston,  he  sent  his  servant  to 
procure  the  needful  equipage.  The  servant  soon  returned 
and  announced  that  the  carriages  would  be  at  the  door  in 
less  than  an  hour.  When  the  carriages  came,  an  officer, 
with  an  escort,  came  with  them.  When  he  was  about  to 
step  on  board,  he  inquired  of  the  officer  when,  where  and 
how  much  he  was  to  pay  for  his  conveyance  to  Boston. 
The  officer  turned  and  said,  "General  Lafayette  !  you  are 
the  NATION'S  GUEST  ;  you  can  pay  nothing  while  you  re- 
main in  America  —  all  your  wants  will  be  abundantly 
supplied  by  a  grateful  people,  without  money  and  without 
price." 

And  he  found  the  announcement  of  the  officer  literally 
true,  for  he  had  not  been  permitted  to  expend  a  dollar  on 
his  whole  trip  throughout  the  States  of  the  Union. 

He  found  himself  seated  in  an  elegant  carriage  with  a 
splendid  escort,  and  on  his  way  to  Boston.  On  coming 
to  a  toll  gate,  he  observed  two  men  in  a  carriage  before 
him,  who  had  stopped  to  pay  toll.  The  toll  gate  was 
open,  the  keeper  came  to  the  door  of  the  toll  house, 
waved  his  hand,  and  said  :  "  Go  ahead  !  the  road,  is  free  ; 
General  Lafayette  travels  this  road  to-day,  and  no  man 
pays  toll." 

He  left  New  York  on  the  20th  of  August,  and  was 
four  days  on  his  trip  through  Connecticut  and  Rhode 
Island  to  Boston.  He  had  a  splendid  escort  all  the  way, 
and  great  demonstrations  of  joy  were  made  by  the  citizens 
of  the  several  towns  and  villages  through  which  he  passed. 
He  took  the  lower  route  near  the  sea  coast,  through 
Bridgeport,  New  Haven,  New  London  and  Providence, 
R.  I.  He  was  so  much  delayed  by  the  demonstrations  on 
the  way,  that  he  had  to  travel  sometimes  in  the  night. 


20 

It  was  midnight  when  he  entered  Dedhain,  yet  he  found 
the  village  illuminated  and  the  people  all  wide  awake  to 
give  him  a  cordial  reception.  Late  at  night,  or  rather 
early  in  the  morning,  he  arrived  at  the  mansion  house  of 
Gov.  Eustis,  in  Roxlmry.  The  meeting  between  these 
revolutionary  friends  was  most  cordial ;  they  did,  indeed, 
"cry  for  joy." 

On  Tuesday,  Aug.  24,  a  large  cavalcade,  and  citizens  in 
carriages  and  on  foot,  escorted  him  to  Boston.  The  pro- 
cession passed  through  the  principal  streets,  amid  the 
ringing  of  bells,  firing  of  cannon  and  shouts  of  the  mul- 
titude. On  the  East  side  of  the  Common,  three  thousand 
school  children  of  both  sexes,  dressed  in  uniform,  with 
ribbons  on  the  breast  stamped  with  likenesses  of  Lafay- 
ette, were  paraded  in  two  lines  ;  they  saluted  the  General 
as  he  passed,  and  their  shrill  voices  were  distinctly  heard 
above  the  din  of  the  hour.  The  General's  carriage  paused 
for  a  moment  while  he  turned  to  salute  the  children,  when 
a  Miss  of  some  ten  summers  darted  from  the  line,  leaped 
into  his  carriage  and  placed  a  wreath  of  laurel,  interwoven 
with  flowers,  on  his  head.  He  impressed  a  kiss  on  her 
blushing  cheek  as  she  retired.  Immediately  he  placed  the 
wreath  on  the  seat  beside  him,  and  found  a  neatly  folded 
paper  attached,  containing  the  following  lines,  which  he 
read  at  his  leisure  : — 

"An  infaut  hand  presents  these  blushing  flowers. 

Glowing  and  pure  as  childhood's  artless  hours; 

Twined  with  the  laurel  Fame  on  thee  bestowed, 

When  thy  young  heart  with  patriot  ardor  glowed. 

Self-exiled  from  the  charms  of  wealth  and  love, 

And  home,  and  friends,  thou  did'st  our  champion  prove; 

And  by  the  side  of  glorious  Washington, 

Did'st  make  our  grateful  country  all  thine  own. 

Go,  fragile  offering,  speak  the  ardent  joy 

Our  bosoms  feel,  which  time  can  ne'er  destroy." 

Beautiful  arches  were  thrown  across  many  of  the  prin- 
cipal streets,  covered  with  evergreens  and  flowers.  One 


21 

on  Washington  street  was  superb,  and  contained  the  fol- 
lowing' lines  : — 

"WELCOME,    LAFAYETTE!" 

"  Our  fathers  in  glory  now  sleep, 

Who  gathered  with  thee  to  the  fight; 
But  the  sons  will  eternally  keep 
The  tablet  of  gratitude  bright. 
We  bow  not  the  neck, 

We  bend  not  the  knee ; 

But  our  hearts,  LAFAYKTTK, 

We  surrender  to  thee." 

As  the  procession  came  on  to  Beacon  street,  it  reminded 
the  General  of  his  dear  revolutionary  friend,  Mrs.  Han- 
cock ;  and  he  inquired  of  the  Mayor  if  she  was  yet  alive. 
He  was  assured  that  she  was  not  only  alive,  but  of  quite 
good  health  for  a  person  of  her  advanced  age.  And  then, 
says  the  Mayor,  you  will  see  her  at  the  window  as  we 
pass,  and  as  the  sashes  are  out,  you  will  have  a  fine  view 
of  her.  As  the  carriage  came  opposite  her  house,  the 
venerable  lady  was  seen  at  an  open  window.  General 
Lafayette  arose  in  his  carriage,  waved  his  hat,  hand,  and 
bowed  to  the  venerable  lady,  while  she  waved  her  hand- 
kerchief, hand,  and  courtesied  to  him.  This  pantomime, 
between  two  such  conspicuous  characters,  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  crowd,  and  wound  up  with  loud  shouts 
of  applause. 

General  Lafayette  was  left  by  his  escort  at  the  steps  of 
the  State  House,  and  proceeded  to  the  Senate  Chamber, 
where  were  assembled  the  Governor  and  Council,  Judges 
of  Courts  and  revolutionary  worthies.  Ex-Gov.  John 
Brooks  was  present,  and  was  recognized  at  once  by  the 
General,  and  they  had  a  cordial  meeting.  Here  he  was 
welcomed,  in  behalf  of  the  State,  by  Gov.  Eustis  ;  and. 
anticipating  what  might  happen,  had  prepared  his  address 
in  writing.  He  broke  down  before  he  had  Completed  the 
first  sentence,  and  handed  it  to  his  aid  to  read. 


22 

The  General  was  then  escorted  to  his  headquarters,  at 
the  head  of  Park  street.  It  is  a  large  brick  building, 
built  for  a  club  house,  and  is  still  standing.  It  was  hired 
and  fitted  up  by  the  City  of  Boston,  as  a  first-class  hotel, 
for  the  General's  particular  use  and  headquarters  while  in 
Boston.  Being  on  the  corner  of  Park  and  Beacon  streets, 
and  facing  the  Common,  it  is  more  airy  and  pleasant  than 
any  hotel  in  the  city.  Standing  but  a  short  distance  from 
the  State  House  on  the  East,  and  the  Gov.  Hancock  house 
about  the  same  distance  on  the  West,  he  found  time  to 
pay  a  number  of  visits  to  the  venerable  lady  Hancock. 
During  the  Revolution,  and  in  the  lifetime  of  her  hus- 
band, he  had  made  her  house  his  home  while  in  Boston. 
She  had  always  treated  him  with  all  the  kind  attentions  of 
an  affectionate  mother,  and  he  had  always  esteemed  her  as 
one  of  his  most  valued  friends. 

In  1824,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  venerable  lady 
Hancock,  and  looking  over  the  ancient  Hancock  mansion. 
It  stood  on  high  ground,  facing  the  Common,  was  said  to 
have  been  the  handsomest  house  in  Boston  when  built, 
and  then  displayed  many  traits  of  architectural  beauty. 
But  where  is  it  now?  Gone!  Stern  modern  improve- 
ment got  hold  of  that  and  tore  it  to  atoms  !  But  the 
plain,  staid,  homely  "  Old  South  "  still  remains  ;  and  at  a 
cost  and  on  conditions  that  will  stagger  the  belief  of  pos- 
terity. Verily,  there  is  no  accounting  for  taste.* 

The  General  was  escorted  to  Cambridge,  where  he 
attended  the  commencement  of  Harvard  College,  and  was 


*  NOTE — It  is  a  marvel  that  some  of  the  wise  antiquarians  of 
Boston  had  not  suggested  the  propriety  of  preserving  intact  the 
muddy  shores  of  the  frog  pond  on  the  Common,  in  its  primitive 
ugliness,  rather  than  permit  it  to  be  modernized  with  a  neat  curb- 
stone wall  and  a  pleasant  gravelled  walk.  It  was  the  most  ancient, 
as  well  as  the  most  ugly,  of  anything  in  Boston,  not  excepting  the 
"  Old  South."  Good  taste  does  not  incline  to  preserve  anything 
useless  and  ugly,  however  ancient  it  may  be. 


23 

welcomed  to  that  institution  by  the  learned  President 
Kirkland.  On  the  Thursday  following,  he  attended  the 
anniversary  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society,  and  listened 
to  the  impassioned  eloquence  of  Prof.  Edward  Everett. 

But  1  cannot  relate  all  his  visits,  receptions  and  dinners 
during  the  week,  in  detail ;  and,  therefore,  shall  only  state 
that  he  went  to  Medford  and  dined  with  his  venerable 
friend  Gov.  Brooks  ;  and  to  Quincy,  and  spent  the  day 
with  President  John  Adams. 

And  now  I  come  to  the  climax  of  his  visit  at  Boston, 
and  to  the  first  time  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Gen. 
Lafayette.  In  1824  and  '25  I  lived  in  Concord,  N.  H., 
was  editor  of  a  newspaper,  and  was  an  aid  to  Gov.  Mor- 
rill, — the  only  time,  as  far  as  I  know,  when  an  aid  of  the 
Governor  was  of  any  importance  to  him,  the  State,  or  to 
himself.  Soon  after  Gen.  Lafayette's  arrival  in  Boston, 
I  received  an  order  from  the  Governor  to  invite  him  to 
visit  New  Hampshire.  It  was  at  the  club  house  where  I 
first  saw  him,  and  although  he  was  surrounded  by  many 
venerable  men,  strangers  to  me,  yet  at  once  I  designated 
Lafayette  from  all  others.  I  was  accompanied  by  Gov. 
Eustis'  aid,  who  called  the  Governor's  attention  to  myself, 
and  he  introduced  me  to  Gen.  Lafayette.  In  the  most 
fitting  words  I  could  command,  in  behalf  of  Gov.  Mor- 
rill,  I  invited  him  to  visit  New  Hampshire  at  his  earliest 
convenience.  He  replied,  that  his  intention  was  to  visit 
New  Hampshire,  but  .not  then.  It  had  been  arranged 
that  he  should  be  present  and  assist  in  laying  the  corner 
stone  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Monument  the  next  year,  on  the 
17th  of  June,  and  immediately  thereafter,  lie  should  be 
happy  to  pay  his  respects  to  the  government  and  people 
of  New  Hampshire  ;  and  as  the  Legislature  would  then 
be  in  session,  he  deemed  it  to  be  a  favorable  time  for  his 
visit.  I  bowed  assent,  and  he  retired.  The  Governor 
stopped  a  moment  and  said  :  "  This  is  the  morning  of  a 


24 

great  day  in  Boston.  Many  companies  of  our  militia  will 
pass  in  review  before  Gen.  Lafayette  in  front  of  the  State 
House,  and  a  great  dinner  will  be  given  in  a  tent  on  the 
Common  ;  and  here  is  a  ticket  for  the  dinner.  The  General 
will  also  attend  the  Theatre  at  night,  which  will  be  filled 
to  overflowing ;  but  as  I  have  a  few  reserved  seats  at  my 
command,  I  will  give  you  a  ticket  for  the  Theatre  also. 
And  now,  if  you  will  make  yourself  at  home  with  my  aid, 
he  will  give  you  a  favorable  position  to  witness  the  im- 
portant coming  events."  And  he  did. 

Monday,  the  30th  day  of  August,  1824,  was  the  great 
display  on  Boston  Common.  Nearly  9000  troops  lined 
the  Common,  the  head  resting  on  Park  street  gate.  At 
ten  o'clock  the  show  began.  Gen.  Lafayette,  accompa- 
nied by  Gov.  Eustis,  his  aids,  council  and  many  citizens, 
were  escorted  down  from  the  State  House  to  the  Common, 
and  formed  a  line  on  the  high  ground  at  the  front.  Gen. 
Lafayette  moved  a  few  paces  in  front  and  uncovered  his 
head.  At  that  moment,  the  commanding  officer  announced 
in  a  loud  voice,  GENERAL  LAFAYETTE  !  The  troops 
were  standing  "at  ease,"  with  ordered  arms;  and  when 
this  announcement  was  made  they  clapped  their  hands 
along  the  whole  line  ;  but  as  sound  comes  to  the  ear  ac- 
cording to  distance,  it  seemed  like  the  prolonged  roll  of  a 
drum  ;  and  then,  with  uncovered  heads,  they  tried  their 
voices  in  loud,  rousing  cheers.  Whether  the  crowd  joined 
in  this,  I  know  not,  but  I  must  confess  I  never  heard  such 
rousing  cheers  before.  The  order  was  then  given  to 
shoulder  and  present  arms.  Then  the  large  band  of  music 
at  the  head  of  the  column  gave  their  thrilling  cheers  in 
three  times  three.  In  the  meantime  the  General  waved 
his  hat  and  hand  in  recognition  of  these  demonstrations 
of  joy  at  his  presence.  The  troops  then  wheeled  by  pla- 
toons and  marched.  As  they  passed  before  the  General, 
it  was  manifest  that  enthusiasm  conquered  discipline. 


25 

The  best  drilled  troops,  and  they  were  of  the  first  order, 
continually  broke  ranks,  in  spite  of  all  commands  and 
efforts  of  officers.  The  General  would  occasionally  smile, 
for  he  deemed  the  temporary  disorder  not  a  lack  of  dis- 
cipline, but  really  as  complimentary  to  himself.  But 
sometimes  the  officer  himself  lost  all  thought  of  his  men, 
gave  the  salute,  faced  round,  advanced  backwards,  gazed 
at  the  General,  and  when  his  advancing  men  obstructed 
his  view,  turned  and  passed  on.  If  the  revolution  tried 
men's  souls,  it  would  seem  that  Lafayette  tried  men's 
hearts. 

As  the  General  stood  there  in  bold  relief  to  a  countless 
multitude — the  "observed  of  all  observers," — I  could  not 
but  notice  the  simplicity  of  his  dress.  The  hero  of  two 
hemispheres  stood  there  in  Nankin  pants,  swans-down 
vest,  blue  broadcloth  coat  with  gilt  buttons,  and  a  com- 
mon beaver  hat,  and  plain  shoes  on  his  feet, —  without 
any  insignia  of  rank  or  office  on  his  person.  What  a  com- 
mentary on  dress  now  ! 

After  the  review  was  passed,  the  troops  performed  some 
well  executed  evolutions,  and  for  the  time  were  dismissed. 

The  public  dinner  was  under  a  large  tent  on  the  high 
ground  near  the  center  of  the  Common.  It  was  the  largest 
and  most  enthusiastic  feast  I  ever  attended.  There  were 
six  tables  170  feet  long,  with  a  cross  table  on  an  elevated 
platform  at  the  head,  on  which  were  placed  1600  plates, 
and  all  filled.  At  the  cross  table,  sat  the  Governor  and 
staff,  Gen.  Lafayette,  and  a  few  invited  guests.  There 
were  toasts  prepared,  and  a  toast-master,  but  the  enthu- 
siasm was  so  great  that  a  rule  had  been  made  that  no  one 
should  make  a  speech  or  give  a  volunteer  toast,  except 
through  the  toast-master  —  to  be  read  at  his  discretion. 
But  if  men  could  not  make  speeches,  or  give  toasts,  it 
must  not  be  supposed  that  it  was  a  silent  feast.  They 
were  not  prohibited  from  talking  or  cheering ;  and  when 
4 


26 

the  regular  toasts  were  given,  they  were  cheered  to  the 
echo,  more  especially  those  that  in  any  manner  alluded  to 
Gen.  Lafayette.  The  General  quietly  ate  his  dinner, 
took  his  glass  of  wine,  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  lis- 
tened awhile  to  the  toasts,  and  then  he  and  the  Governor 
retired.  No  partiality  was  shown,  for  the  General  was 
most  enthusiastically  cheered  in  his  going  as  well  as  in  his 
coming.  I  left  most  of  the  guests  at  the  table,  and  how 
the  feast  ended  I  know  not,  and  never  inquired. 

At  night,  I  attended  the  theatre,  and  entered  a  box 
that  my  ticket  indicated  near  the  centre.  The  house  was  we'll 
filled,  and  soon  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity  from  pit  to 
gallery.  The  play  began  ;  but  no  one  paid  any  attention 
to  it,  for  all  were  absorbed  in  the  expected  General,  and 
could  not  attend  to  anything  else  ;  and  he  was  late,  for  he 
had  to  show  himself  at  a  levee  and  a  ball,  previous  to  his 
coming  there,  to  be  introduced,  more  especially,  to  the 
ladies.  At  length,  the  General,  Governor  and  suite  en- 
tered the  house.  The  audience  rose  at  once,  and  gave 
such  rounds  of  cheers  as  never  echoed  within  its  walls 
before.  It  was  not  quite  as  powerful  as  a  Southern  or 
Western  whirlwind,  for  the  high-arched  roof  held  on.  In 
the  meantime,  the  ladies  waved  their  white  handkerchiefs:, 
and  the  orchestra  gave  a  salute,  and  then  played  a  national 
air.  And  then  the  curtain  arose  and  showed  at  the  back 
of  the  stage  a  picture  of  a  large  castle,  with  the  word 
"  LA  GRANGE"  at  the  bottom,  in  large  letters.  The  Gen- 
eral arose,  waved  his  hat  and  bowed  his  head,  in  token  of 
recognition  of  his  beautiful  residence  in  France.  He 
afterwards  told  me,  it  was  a  very  perfect  likeness,  and 
must  have  been  painted  from  the  building  itself.  And 
then,  an  actor  appeared  and  sang  a  patriotic  song  of  wel- 
come, which  was  abundantly  cheered  and  encored. 

But  why  attempt  to  describe  what  is  indescribable? 
The  play  itself  was  nowhere.  The  actors,  indeed,  had 


27 

"  their  exits  and  their  entrances,"  but  no  one  paid  any 
attention  to  them.  I  did  not  know  at  the  time,  what  the 
play  was,  Avho  the  actors  were,  or  what  they  said;  and 
presume  no  one  else  did.  The  General  totally  eclipsed 
everything  else,  and  at  an  early  hour  the  green  curtain 
came  down  and  the  show  was  over.  The  General  was 
shouted  aboard  his  carriage,  and  cheered  along  the  illumi- 
nated streets  ;  but  the  sound  at  length  died  away  in  the 
distance,  and  Boston,  for  a  time,  was  at  rest. 

The  General  did  not  intend  to  extend  his  visit  at  that 
time,  any  further  East  than  Boston,  and  had  made  his 
arrangements  to  start  for  New  York  City  on  the  2d  day 
of  September,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  But  the  pressure  was 
so  great,  and  the  curiosity  to  see  him  so  intense,  that, 
through  the  good  offices  of  the  efficient  Mayor  of  Boston, 
he  consented  to  make  a  flying  visit  as  far  as  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  on  the  condition  that  he  could  be  returned  in  time 
to  fulfill  his  engagements. 

Accordingly,  he  left  Boston  at  an  early  hour  on  the 
31st  of  August,  took  breakfast  at  Marblehead  and  dined 
'at  Salem  at  2  P.  M.,  staid  at  Newburyport  over  nightr 
and  appeared  at  Portsmouth  at  8  o'clock,  September  1. 
His  visit  at  Portsmouth  was  a  splendid  affair,  exceeding 
anything  ever  known  or  attempted  there  j  before  or  since  ; 
an  account  of  which  fills  three  and  a  half  columns  of  the 
Portsmouth  Journal  of  that  time.  Only  an  allusion  can 
be  made  to  it  now. 

He  was  met  at  the  line  of  Greenland  by  a  procession, 
two  miles  long,  of  citizens  in  carriages  and  on  horseback, 
and  escorted  to  Portsmouth.  On  reaching  Wibirds'  Hill 
a  national  salute  was  fired  by  a  detachment  of  the  Ports- 
mouth Artillery.  At  that  point,  the  Straflford  Guards 
from  Dover,  the  Rockingham  Guards  and  Gilman  Blues 
joined  the  procession  and  performed  escort  duty  through 
the  streets  of  Portsmouth.  On  entering  the  compact  part 


28 

of  the  town,  cannon  were  fired,  bells  rung,  the  men 
shouted  a  welcome  and  the  ladies  flourished  their  white 
handkerchiefs.  And  here,  more  than  a  thousand  school 
children  lined  the  street,  dressed  in  uniform,  with  Lafay- 
ette badges  on  the  breast ;  and  their  infant  voices  so  vig- 
orously shouted  a  welcome,  that  their  shrill  voices  could 
be  heard,  as  at  Boston,  above  the  deep-toned  voices  of 
men,  martial  music  or  the  ringing  of  bells.  After  pass- 
ing through  Middle,  Broad,  Court  and  Congress  streets, 
he  was  landed  at  Franklin  Hall,  where  he  was  introduced 
to  revolutionary  veterans  and  many  citizens.  A  grand 
dinner  was  given  in  Jefferson  Hall,  where  more  than  three 
hundred  young  ladies  were  individually  introduced  to  him. 
The  Hall  and  principal  buildings  in  Portsmouth  were 
illuminated,  and  made  a  most  splendid  appearance. 

He  left  the  Hall  at  10,  repaired  to  the  Gov.  Langdon 
Mansion  House,  where  he  made  his  headquarters  while  in 
Portsmouth,  partook  of  some  refreshment,  and  at  11  was 
on  his  way,  under  escort,  to  Boston.  Although  he  had  to 
travel  60  miles,  he  was  in  Boston  at  7  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  in  good  time  to  perform  all  his  previous  engage- 
ments. He  had  entered  Boston  on  the  24th  of  August, 
and  left  for  New  York  on  the  2d  day  of  of  September. 
His  visit  at  the  East  was,  therefore,  only  eight  days. 
What  a  vigorous  man  he  must  have  been  to  go  through 
such  a  round  of  receptions,  dinners  and  speeches,  and 
travel  so  many  miles  in  so  short  a  time  ! 

General  Lafayette,  after  rest  and  refreshment,  left  Bos- 
ton at  2  o'clock,  passed  through  Lexington  and  Concord, 
stopped  over  night  at  the  home  of  Col.  Wilder  at  Stowe, 
who  had  been  well  accmainted  with  the  General  and  his 
family  in  France.  He  then  passed  through  Lancaster, 
Boston,  Sterling  and  West  Boylston  to  Worcester.  Here 
he  was  welcomed  by  a  large  assemblage  of  citizens,  and 
escorted  through  the  principal  streets.  The  children  of 


29 

the  schools  were  out  in  large  numbers,  ornamented  with 
badges  of  Lafayette,  and  threw  laurels  in  his  path  as  he 
passed.  He  was  here  introduced  to  a  large  number  of 
revolutionary  officers  and  soldiers,  and  the  meeting  was 
very  affecting  to  them  both.  He  then  passed  on  to  Hart- 
ford in  Connecticut,  where  his  stay  was  short,  but  highly 
gratifying  and  enthusiastic.  Indeed,  for  the  whole  dis- 
tance from  Boston  to  Hartford,  he  had  been  conducted  by 
a  continual  escort  and  welcomed  with  great  joy  by  vast 
multitudes  as  he  passed. 

At  Hartford,  he  took  a  steamer,  called  at  Middletown, 
and  then  passed  down  the  river  into  Long  Island  Sound, 
and  was  greatly  saluted  and  cheered  as  he  entered  again 
the  City  of  New  York. 

But  to  be  more  explicit,  he  returned  from  his  Eastern 
tour  in  the  steamer  Oliver  Ellsworth,  Sept.  5,  at  one 
o'clock  P.  M.  A  national  salute  was  fired  by  the  Frank- 
lin 74  as  he  passed ;  and  the  wharves  and  shores  on  East 
River  for  two  miles  were  lined  with  a  great  multitude  of 
citizens,  who  shouted  continued  welcomes  along  the  whole 
distance.  He  was  received  at  the  Fulton  street  wharf, 
and  conducted  to  his  lodgings  at  the  City  Hotel,  through 
streets  filled  with  people,  whose  anxiety  to  see  him  had  in 
no  wise  abated. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  the  anniversary  of  the  Gen- 
eral's birthday,  for  he  was  then  67  years  old,  the  Cincin- 
nati Veterans  gave  him  a  birthday  dinner  in  Washington 
Hall ;  and  he  was  escorted  there  by  the  Lafayette  Guards. 
The  room  was  splendidly  decorated  for  the  occasion,  and 
over  the  chair  where  the  General  sat  was  a  triumphal  arch 
of  evergreens  and  laurels,  on  the  centre  of  which  was  a 
large  eagle  with  a  scroll  in  his  beak  bearing  the  words 
Sept.  6,  1757,  the  day  of  his  birth;  on  the  right  with 
a  scroll  bearing  the  words  "  Brandywine,  Sept.  11, 
7777,"  and  another  on  the  left,  with  the  words  "  York- 


30 

town,  Oct.  19,  1781."  But  the  decorations  of  this  Hall 
were  so  numerous  and  splendid,  they  cannot  well  be  de- 
scribed in  detail.  Col.  Varick,  the  president  of  the  Soci- 
ety, presided,  the  guests  were  venerable  and  numerous, 
and  most  of  them  his  comrades  in  arms  during  the  revolu- 
tion. It  was  to  the  General  the  most  interesting  banquet 
he  had  attended  in  America. 

On  Tuesday,  he  visited  Columbia  College  ;  and  Wednes- 
day he  embarked  on  board  the  Chancellor  Livingston, 
visited  the  most  interesting  places  in  the  Bay,  and  wound 
up  the  trip  at  the  Narrows,  when  a  national  salute  was 
fired  at  Fort  Lafayette.  He  inspected  the  fort,  equip- 
ments and  soldiers,  and  the  visit  was  finished  by  a  most 
delightful  repast. 

But  time  would  fail  me  to  enumerate  all  the  honors 
paid  the  General  at  New  York.  But  one  was  so  unique 
and  marvellous  that  it  must  not  be  omitted.  On  Thurs- 
day the  fire  department  of  New  York  City  and  Brooklyn 
turned  out  in  its  full  strength  and  paraded  in  the  Park. 
The  fire  engines  numbered  46,  besides  a  number  of  hook 
and  ladder  companies.  The  General  appeared  on  the 
balcony  of  a  hall  near  by,  in  company  with  a  number  of 
gentlemen  and  ladies,  to  witness  the  scene.  In  the  centre 
of  the  Park,  the  ladders  of  the  companies  were  erected  in 
the  form  of  a  pyramid,  on  the  top  of  which  was  placed 
a  miniature  house  filled  with  combustibles.  The  engines, 
charged  with  water,  then  approached  on  all  sides  at  a  suit- 
able distance  ;  at  a  signal  the  house  was  fired,  and  when 
in  full  blaze,  46  engines,  from  all  sides,  played  upon  it. 
In  a  twinkling,  the  house  and  fire  were  nowhere,  but  46 
streams  of  water  from  as  many  powerful  engines,  accu- 
rately directed  to  a  common  centre,  shot  the  water  high  in 
the  air  like  a  mighty  fountain,  and  then  the  spray,  like 
silver  rain,  came  down  on  all  sides  ;  and  as  the  sun  shone, 
rainbows  appeared  in  all  their  brilliant  colors.  The  scene 


81 

was  so  enchanting,  unique  and  unexpected,  that  the  Gen- 
eral, as  well  as  the  ladies,  could  not  suppress  their  dem- 
onstrations of  joy. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  August  15,  1824,  at  the  City 
Hotel,  Gen.  Lafayette  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  Capt. 
Allyn,  of  the  ship  Cadmus,  and  presented  him  with  a 
superb  writing  desk.  He  also  presented  Daniel  Chadwick, 
chief  mate,  a  beautiful  case  of  mathematical  instruments, 
surmounted  with  silver ;  and  to  all  the  other  officers  and 
crew  he  gave  a  valued  keepsake.  The  next  day  the  ship 
Cadmus  sailed  for  France. 

But  a  climax  of  the  displays  at  New  York  was  reached 
at  last,  in  a  brilliant  ball,  given  at  Castle  Garden.  More 
than  six  thousand  ladies  and  gentlemen  attended  ;  and  it 
was,  probably,  the  most  costly  and  splendid  ball  ever 
given  in  the  United  States.  I  must  leave  it  undescribed, 
for  it  baffles  the  power  of  speech  or  pen.  Those  that  are 
curious  in  such  affairs,  will  find  an  attempted  description 
in  the  newspapers  of  the  time.  It  must  be  admitted,  that 
in  extent  and  variety,  the  citizens  of  New  York  bore  the 
palm  in  doing  honor  to  Gen.  Lafayette.  They  had  the 
means  and  the  will,  and  to  those  was  added  consummate 
skill. 

Immediately  after  the  ball,  and  at  the  early  hour  of  two 
o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning,  the  General,  his  son  and 
suite,  together  with  a  large  company  of  ladies  and  gentle- 
men, went  on  board  the  steamer  James  Kent,  and  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river  to  visit  Albany,  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment, and  the  intermediate  towns  on  the  route.  It  was  a 
most  delightful  trip,  not  only  in  romantic  natural  scenery, 
but  in  artificial  displays,  at  all  the  principal  towns 'on  the 
river.  In  addition  to  all  this,  the  river  banks  were,  gen- 
erally, lined  by  a  joyous  multitude  of  people  ;  and  shouts 
of  welcome  echoed  from  shore  to  shore  all  the  way  to  the 
end  of  the  route.  I  cannot  stop  now  to  describe  the  many 


32 

enchanting  scenes  of  the  trip,  as  it  would  be  too  volumi- 
nous for  the  present  occasion. 

The  boat  returned  to  New  York  early  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, and  the  General  repaired  to  his  lodgings  at  the  City 
Hotel.  On  Monday  he  dined  with  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  State.  Six  hundred  of  the  craft  were  present,  decor- 
ated with  all  the  Masonic  symbols. 

He  then  received  a  most  interesting  address  from  the 
children  of  the  village  of  Catskill,  enclosing  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  to  constitute  him  a  life  member  of  the 
American  Bible  Society.  The  General  was  much  moved 
at  this,  and  returned  a  most  affectionate  reply. 

On  Thursday  morning  the  General  took  a  formal  and 
an  affecting  leave  of  his  New  York  friends  at  the  City 
Hotel.  He  was  then  escorted  to  the  steamer  James  Kent, 
by  large  troops  of  horse  and  a  battalion  of  infantry,  ac- 
companied by  an  immense  multitude  to  bid  him  an  affec- 
tionate adieu.  The  boat  left  the  wharf  amidst  continued 
cheers,  and  the  General  stood  upon  deck  waving  his  hat 
and  hand,  and  bowing  his  head  until  lost  to  sight  by  the 
multitude  on  shore. 

The  General  then  passed  on  through  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland,  to  Washington.  Civic  and  mar- 
tial honors  awaited  him  all  along  the  route,  but  must  now 
be  imagined  rather  than  described. 

He  had  a  most  imposing  and  cordial  welcome  at  Wash- 
ington city.  Congress  was  not  then  in  session,  but  due 
honors  were  paid  him  by  the  President,  officers  of  gov- 
ernment and  citizens.  His  stay  in  Washington  was  then 
short,  as  he  intended  to  return  in  December,  when  Con- 
gress would  be  in  session. 

At  noon,  on  the  16th  of  September,  1824,  he  entered 
the  Ancient  Dominion,  at  Alexandria.  Due  honors  were 
paid  him  here,  and  he  then  passed  on  to  Mount  Vernon 
to  pay  his  devoirs  at  the  shrine  of  his  beloved  friend, 


33 

Washington.  He  staid  here  over  Sunday,  and  on  Mon- 
day he  proceeded  down  the  river  Potomac  to  Yorktown, 
in  company  with  two  other  steamers  filled  with  ladies  and 
gentlemen.  • 

His  reception  at  Yorktown  was  very  imposing.  The 
village  was  turned  into  a  camp,  and  the  veritable  tent  of 
Washington  was  there^,  into  which  Lafayette  entered  with 
deep  emotion,  and  there  received  many  of  his  revolution- 
ary friends  ;  and  on  Wednesday  morning  he  partook  of  a 
military  breakfast,  in  the  tent  of  Washington,  with  his 
comrades  in  amis.  • 

After  leaving  Yorktown  the  Gfeneral  visited  Williams- 
burg,  Norfolk,  Petersburg  and  Richmond.  The  demon- 
strations in'  honor  of  Gen.  Lafayette  need  not  be  described 
in  detail,  but  suffice  it  to  say  that  all  the  magnificent 
parade,  splendid  decorations,  civic  feasts  and  martial 
honors  that  marked  his  whole  progress,  from  the  time  he 
first  landed  on  our  shores,  were  displayed  to  their  full  ex- 
tent in  the  State  of  Virginia. 

General  Lafayette  left  Richmond  November  2d,  and 
arrived  at  Monticello,  on  a  visit  to  his  venerable  friend 
President  Jefferson,  and  arrived  there  on  the  4th.  The 
meeting  was  most  cordial  and  affectionate.  They  re- 
.mained  locked  in  each  others'  arms  several  minutes  before 
they  could  find  utterance  to  their  feelings.  The  General 
was  presented  to  his  family  and  friends,  and  was  most 
cordially  entertained.  He  passed  a  week  at  Monticello,  to 
enjoy  the  repose  of  that  beautiful  seat,  under  the  courteous 
hospitality  of  his  beloved  friend  ;  and  which,  also,  afforded 
him  some  leisure  to  reply  to  his  nume'rous  correspondents. 
Although  the  General  had  an  active  and  efficient  Secre- 
tary, yet  his  unanswered  letters  then  amounted  to  nearly 
four  hundred  ! 

While  here,  he  visited  the  University  of  Virginia,   at 
Charlottsville,  some  five  miles  away,  and  there  dined  with 
5 


34 

the  faculty  of  the  College,  and  invited  guests.  The  Col- 
lege was  founded  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  and  he  was  anxious  to 
attend  Lafayette  on  his  visit,  but  age  and  ill  health  pre- 
vented. He  sent  a  note,  however,  apologizing  for  his 
absence,  and  in  commendation  of  his  friend. 

It  may  be  worthy  of  note  that  the  Sages  0f  Quincy 
and  Monticello,  in  about  a  year  and  a  half  after  their  in- 
terview with  General  Lafayette,  both  died  on  the  same 
4th  of  July,  in  1826  ;  and  the  messengers  who  bore  tid- 
ings of  the  event,  met  at  Philadelphia,  where  they  had 
signed  the  Declaration  o£  Independence  together  in  1776, 
just  half  a  century  before.  Though  diverse  their  lives, 
during  a  portion  of  their  long  and  eventful  pilgrimage  on 
earth,  they  exchanged  friendly  salutations  years  before  its 
close,  and  at  last,  on  the  Birthday  of  the  Nation,  started 
for  eternity  together  ! 

The  General  then  visited  President  Madison,  at  Mont- 
pelier.  His  reception  there  was  very  cordial ;  and  after  a 
few  days  he  left  for  Washington  City,  and  arrived  there 
on  the  23d  of  November.  He  dined  on  the  same  day  witli 
the  President,  in  company  with  the  officers  of  the  General 
Government  and  city. 

On  a  pressing  invitation,  he  visited  Baltimore  to  attend 
the  great  Cattle  Show  of  the  State  of  Maryland.  He  was 
received  at  Baltimore  with  unabated  cordiality,  and  was 
complimented  with  the  delivery  of  the  premiums.  On 
his  return  to  Washington,  he  made  the  White  House  his 
headquarters. 

When  Congress  was  in  session,  he  was  introduced  into 
the  Senate  by  a  Committee  and  most  cordially  received ; 
but  in  the  House  of  Representatives  he  had  a  most  im- 
posing reception. 

On  Friday,  December  10,  at  one  o'clock,  he  was  intro- 
duced to  the  House  by  a  committee  of  24  members,  and 
when  the  General  appeared,  the  members  of  the  House 


35  . 

- 

and  Senate  and  distinguished  pers'ons  admitted  on  the 
floor  of  the  House,  all  rose  and  remained  standing,  while 
Henry  Clay,  the  Speaker,  in  behalf  of  Congress  and 
nation,  addressed  the  Nation's  Guest,  in  the  highest  strain* 
of  impassioned  eloquence.  To  which  address,  Gen.  La- 
fayette replied  in  a  most  happy  and  feeling  manner.  Th% 
House  then  adjourned,  and  each  member,  preceded  by  t 
Speaker,  took  the  General  by  the  hand  and  gave  him  a 
hearty  welcome.  So  cordial  and  fervent  was  the  greeting,. 
that  those  who  witnessed  it  aver  its  parallel  cannot- boe 
found  in  Grecian  or  Roman  history.  -a-  . 

The  scene  in  the  Senate  was  less  imposing,  but  njot  less 
honorable  ;  for  it  is  known,  that  General  Lafayette  is  the 
only  person  that  ever' had  a  public  reception  in  that  body. 
On  the  22d  day  of  December,  1824,  Congress  passed 
a  bill  granting  General  Lafayettfc  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars  in  money,  and  also,  a  township  of  public  land  to  be 
selected  by  the  President.  President  Munroe  selected,  it  • 
is  said,  what  is  now  called  Tallahassee,  in  Florida.  The 
President  personally  presented  the  land  warrant,  with  an 
appropriate  address.  Capitalists  then  offered  General 
Lafayette  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  his  township  ; 
and  as  he  did  not  wish  to  colonize  it  himself,  or  sell  it  by 
piecemeal,  he  accepted  the  offer.  He  had  then  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  money,  which  he  deposited  in 
the  United  States  Bank  at  Philadelphia. 

General  Lafayette  took  his  tour  from  Washington 
through  the  Southern  and  Western  States  about  the  first 
of  March,  1825.  He  visited  the  principal  towns  in  North 
and  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Ten- 
nessee, Missouri,  Kentucky,  Illinois,  Indian^  and  Ohio. 
He  passed  up  the  Mississippi  river  in  a  steamer,  and  then 
up  the  Ohio  river  to  Pittsburg.  He  visited  Buffalo,  Ni- 
agara Falls,  and  returned  to  Albany  by  way  of  the  Erie 
canal.  From  Albany  he  proceeded  directly  to  Boston, 


through  Springfield  and  Worcester,  and  arrived  there  on 
the  16th  day  of  June,  1825. 

On  his  return  to  the  East,  he  had  visited  all  the  States 
in  the  Union,  except  the  two  New  England  States,  Maine 
and  Vermont.  But  he  met  his  revolutionary  friend  Gov. 
Eustis  no  more.  IJe  had  gone  to  his  rest  on  the  6th«of 
February  before.  Gov.  Brooks  had  also  died  during  his 
absence. 

On  the  17th  day  of  June,  1825,  General  Lafayette 
appeared  on  Bunker  Hill,  laid  the  corner  stone  of  the' 
Bunker  Hill  Monument,  sat  on  the  platform,  surrounded 
by  such  a  civic  and  military  display  as  is  'seldom  seen 
among  men ;  and  with  a  sea  of  upturned  faces,  listened 
to  the  eloquent  address  of  Daniel  •Webster  on  that  mem- 
orable occasion. 

Massachusetts  had  indicated  what  might  be  done,  by 
the  splendid  display  on  Boston  Common. the  year  before  ; 
•but  it  seems  it  was  only  a  prelude  to  what  her  people 
could  do.  Bunker  Hill  was,  indeed,  captured  as  never 
befoi-e. 

The  celebration  of  the   Fiftieth   Anniversary  of  the  , 
battle  of  BUNKER  HILL,  and  the  ceremony  of  laying  the 
corner  stone  of  an    Obelisk  to  commemorate  that  great 
event,  took  place  on  the  17th  of  Jume,  1825.*t 

A  Grand  Procession  was  formed  on  Boston  Common 
with  the  utmost, precision,  under  the  direction  of  General 
Lyman.  The  ^uilitary  escort  was  composed  of  sixteen 
companies  of  infantry  and  a  troop  of  horse,  all  volun- 
teers and  in  full  uniform.  The  survivors  of  the  battle 
followed  in  eight  carriages,  about  40  in  number;  each 
wearing  a  l^adge,  '*  Bunker  Hill,  June  17."  Then 
some  two  hundred  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  revolution, 
with  appropriate  badges.'  Then  the  Bunker  Hill  Monu- 
ment Association  in  full  numbers.  The  Masonic  proces- 
sion succeeded,  exceeding  two  thousand  of  the  fraternity, 


•37 

• 

with  all  their  jewels  and  regalia.  They  were  followed  by 
the  Grand  Encampments  of  the  Knights  Templar  of 
Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  Vermont,  Maine,  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Massachusetts,  in  full  numbers,  with  banners 
and  implements.  And  the  Grand  Lodges  of  the  above 
named  States,  and  by  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  by  various 
subordinate  Chapters  and  Lodges.  A  full  band  of  music 
was  attached  to  the  Masonic  procession.  . 

Hon.  Mr.  Webster,  Orator  of  the  Day,  and  President 
of  the  Bunker  Hill  Association  ;  the  other  officers. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Kirkland,  Rev.  Mr.  Thaxter  and  Rev, 
Mr.  Walker,  Chaplain  of  the  Day. 

The  Directors  and  Committees  of  the  Association. 
Gen.  Lafayette  -in  an  open  coach  and  four,  with  General 
Lallernand  of  Philadelphia.  * 

•  The  General's  son,  George  Washington  Lafayette*  and 
the  General's  suite,  in  a  carriage.  • 

His  Excellency  the  Governor. 

The  Council,  Senate,  and  House  of  Representatives. 

Governor  Fenner  of  Rhode  Island ;  the  Secretary  of 
War,  James  Harbour,  and  dtjiers. 

Delegations  from  the  several  States.   _     • 

Delegations  from  thfe  Plymouth  Society  in  Plymouth. 

Officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  in  uniform. 

Citizens.  • 

• 

In  this  order,  the  whole  proceede'd.  through  several 
streets  of  Boston,  to  Monument  Square  in  Charlestown. 
The  procession  was  over  two  miles  long,  and  the  front 
had  reached  Charlestown  bridge  when  the  rear  left  the 
Common. 

On  arriving  at  the  ground,  General  Lafayette,  at  the 
request  of  Mr.  Webster,  President  of  the  Association, 
assumed  a  mason's  apron,  took  a  trowel  *in  hand,  placed 
the  mortar  underneath  the  prepared,  corner  stone,  and  by 
the  assistance  of  operative  masons  laid  it.  in  its  proper 


38 

place.  Various  articles  were  placed  in  a  box,  sealed  up 
and  put  underneath  the  stone.  A  long  inscription  had 
been  prepared  and  afterwards  put  on  the  Monument  itself. 
By  that  it  appears  thaf  John  Quincy  Aclams  was  President 
of  the  United  States  ;  Levi  Lincoln,  Governor  of  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  James  Fenner,  of  Rhode  Island ;  Oliver 
Wolcott,  of  Connecticut ;  David  L.  Morrill,  of  New 
Hampshire  ;  Albion  K.  Paris,  of  Maine  ;  and  Cornelius 
P.  Van  Ness,  of  Vermont. 

The  platform  was  of  the  most  ample  dimensions,  one- 
half  of  which  was  occupied  by  more  than  a  thousand 
ladies.  Odes  were  said  and  sung,  and  toasts  given.  The 
dinner  was  given  under  an  edifice  erected  for  the  purpose, 
in  which  were  12  tables  400  feet  long,  on  which  were  4000 
plates^,  and  all  occupied. 

To  wind  up  the  ceremonies  of  the  day,  Mr.  Webster 
arose,  and  after  a  few  well  chosen  prefatory  remarks,  gave 
as  a  toast — 

"Health  and  long  life  to  General  Lafayette" 

General  Lafayette  arose  and  made  a  few  impressive 
and  feeling  remarks,  and  then  gave  the  following  senti- 
ment :t 

"BUNKER  HILL,  and  the  holy  resistance  to  oppres- 
sion, which  has  already  enfranchised  the  American  hemis- 
phere. The  .next  haff  century  jubilee  toast  shall  be  En- 
franchised Europe." 

According  to  arrangements  made  the  previous  year,  the 
General's  next  excursion  was  to  New  Hampshire.  And 
here  began  my  active  part  in  the  movements  of  Gen.  La- 
fayette. On  Tuesday,  the  21st  day  ,of  June,  1825,1  was 
in  Boston,  fully  equipped  to  escort  Gen.  Lafayette  and 
suite  to  the  Capital  of  New  Hampshire.  I  had  ascer-» 
tained  that  besides  the  General  there  werefiis  so.n,  George 
Washington  Lafayette;  Emile  Lavossiur,  his  private  sec- 
retary, and  his' servant  —  who  seemed  to  be  a  very  capable 


89 

"man  of  all  work."  My  equipage  consisted  of  three  car- 
riages— a  barouche,  drawn  by  four  horses,  a  four-horse 
stage  coach,  and  a  two-horse  covered  carriage  for  bag- 
gage.. The  barouche  was  precisely  the  thing  needful  for 
the  occasion.  It  was  of  ample  dimensions,  the  driver's 
seat  was  elevated  and  detached  from  the  body  of  the  car- 
ria^,  and  that  swung  so  low  on  thorough  braces  .that  a, 
person  sitting  down  inside  would  be  no  higher  than  stand- 
ing up  outside.  Very  convenient,  indeed,  for  shaj^jig 
harftls  and  presenting  children.  The  carriages  and^ejays 
of  horses  on  the  road  had  been  provided  by  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Walker,  the  regular  stage-driver  on  the  route  from  Boston 
to  Concord,  N.  EL  Thus  equipped,  and  ready  to  call  for 
the  General  at  his  lodgings,  I  was  met  by  the  Governor's 
aid,  who  said  the  Governor  had  concluded  that  the  honor 
of  the  State  required  that  he  should  escort  'the  General, 
in  his  own  equipage,  to  the  line  of  the  State  at  Methuen, 
and  we  could  receive  him  there  without  material  delay. 
There  did  not  seem  to  be  anything  else  to  do  then  but  to 
start  at  once,  and  keep  out  of  the  way  of  the  Governor's 
escort. 

Just  at  this  moment  a  revolutionary  soldier  from  Ver- 
mont, having  attended  the  Bunker  Hill  celebration,  and 
having  accidentally  been  left  by  the  stage,  begged  for  a 
ride  as  far  as  Concord  on  his  way  home.  As  I  had  ample 
accommodations,  he  was  cheerfully  taken  on  board  with 
me  in  the  barouche.  I  was  not  aware  of  the  dilemma  I  was 
in  until  we  approached  Maiden.  Then  it  was  that  I  could 
see  a  great  ci'owd  in  the  village,  the  bells  began  to  ring, 
cannons  were  fired,  and  bands  of  music  cheered,  and  us 
we  came  near  could  distinctly  hear  the  shouts  of  ' '  Wel- 
come Lafayette."  I  then  perceived  that  the  multitude  be- 
lieved the  soldier  at  my  side  was  none  other  than  Gen. 
Lafayette,  and  were  bound  to  give  him  due  honors.  I, 
therefore,  urged  the  driver  to  push  his  team  into  the  midst 


40 

• 

of  the  crowd,  so  that  I  could  undeceive  them.  With 
mingled  emotions,  hard  to  be  described,  I  arose'  in  the 
carriage  and  with  great  earnestness  exclaimed,  "  'See  that 
you  do  it  not;'  the  gentleman  at  my  side  is  not  Gen.  La- 
fayette, but  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  ac<^dentally  left 
by  the  stage,  and  I  am  giving  him  a  ride  on  his  way 
home.  I  came  to  Boston,  fully  equipped  to  take  the  Gen- 
eral there,  but  the  Governor  has  otherwise  ordered.  His 
escort,  with  Gen.  Lafayette  aboard,  in  all  the  pomp  and 
circumstance  of  a  triumph,  will  be  here  in  about  an- hour. 
But  as  your  patriotism  is  up,  and  this  gentleman,  at  my 
side,  no  doubt,  is  a  worthy  revolutionary  soldier,  give  him 
three  cheers  if  you  please,  and  we  pass  on."  t  They  did 
this  with 'a  will ;  the  soldier  arose,  gave  a.  soldier's  salute, 
and  we  left.  . 

I  then  began  to  realize  the  task  I  had  before  me,  and 
had  my  anticipations  more  than  realized  by  the  time  I  ar- 
rived at  Methuen,  for  I  suppose  I  made  more  than  twenty 
speeches  to  the  gatherings  at  the  villages,  hotels,  stores 
and  cross-roads  on  the  route,  and  Methuen  itself  was 
aroused  and  had  to  be  quieted. 

At  length  my  speeches  began  to  be  irksome  to  myself, 
and  I  tried  to  introduce  variations,  but  it  was  of  no  avail ; 
for  the  subject  could  not  be  changed,  and  a  mere  change 
of  words  was  no  relief.  I  then  began  to  realize  the  tq,sk 
imposed  on  Gen.  Lafayette.  He  had  been  here  nearly  a 
year,  making  speeches  all  over  the  land  —  often  the  same 
in  substance,  and  sometimes  nearly  in  the  same  words. 
And  his  task  was  double  that  of  mine,  for  he  had  to  listen 
to  speeches  as  well  as  make  them,  and  long,  tedious 
speeches  seem  to  be  more  irksome  to  hear  than  to  make. 

It  has  been  suggested  to  me  that  I  might  have  put  the 
revolutionary  soldier  in  the  coach  behind  me,  let  down  the 
curtains  and  avoided  all  further  trouble.  But  honor  and 
patriotism  forbade.  He  was  delighted  where  he  was,  bore 


41 

his  "blushing  honors"  with  great  complacency,  although 
unwittingly  bestowed ;  and  to  have  placed  him  in  a  rear 
carriage,  merely  to  keep  him  out  of  sight,  would  have 
been  an  insult  to  his  dignity.  Nor  would  it  have  availed, 
for  the  stage  driver,  Walker,  had  so  thoroughly  adver- 
tised his  coming  with  Gen.  Lafayette  for  more  than  a 
\\vrk,  that  the  people  had  assembled  along  the  road,  and 
awaited  his  coming.  And  when  they  saw  the  portly, 
honest  Walker,  driving  a  barouche,  drawn  by  four  horses 
with  flags  in  their  headstalls,  and  two  carriages  behind, 
they  would  not  believe  he  was  making  a  fool  of  himself 
and  made  all  this  show  for  nothing,  but  that  the  veritable 
General  must  be  somewhere  aboard,  if  not  readily  seen. 
So  that,  in  fact,  demonstrations  would  have  been  made 
had  our  soldier  been  invisible. 

But  one  suggestion  has  been  made  that  pains  me  to 
state  :  palm  off  our  soldier  to  the  multitude  as  the  veri- 
table Gen.  Lafayette,  and  they  would  have  been  as  well 
satisfied  as  if  they  had  seen  the  real  General  himself.  As 
our  soldier  was  about  seventy  years  of  age,  of  venerable 
appearance,  and  well  clad,  it  might,  perhaps,  have  been 
done  with  success.  But,  setting  aside  its  dishonesty,  it 
would  not  have  been  good  policy,  for  in  time  it  would 
have  been  known,  and  woe  be  to  the  one  that  did  it — bet- 
ter have  a  millstone  about  his  neck,  and  cast  into  the 
depths  of  the  sea. 

But  one  thing  might  have  been  successfully  done — wait 
for  the  Governor's  escort,  and  follow  in  its  wake.  But 
this  I  was  not  inclined  to  do,  as  I  had  no  sympathy  with 
it.  I  preferred  making  my  .monotonous  speeches,  and 
these  could  be  short ;  and  I  was  not  compelled  to  endure 
the  still  more  irksome  task  of  hearing  any  speeches  in 
reply. 

In  about  an  hour  and  a  half  the  General  arrived  at  Me- 
thuen  ;    and   after  a   half  hour   of  hand-shaking,   salutes 
6 


42 

and  speeches,  our  carriages  were  at  the  door,  all  aboard, 
and  we  on  our  way.  My  soldier  then  took  a  seat  in  the 
stage  coach,  and  the  General  in  the  barouche  with  me. 

Immediately,  I  stated  to  the  General  the  dilemma  I  had 
been  in,  and  the  many  speeches  I  had  to  make  on  account 
of  his  absence  ;  but  as  he  was  now  present,  I  felt  entirely 
relieved,  for  I  should  only  be  required  to  hear  speeches, 
and  not  make  them.  He  laughed  heartily  at  the  joke  the 
Governor  had  unwittingly  put  upon  me,  and  then  said, 
that  he  too  had  made  many  speeches  on  the  route  to  Me- 
thuen — perhaps  not  so  many  in  number  as  I  had,  for  at 
some  of  the  crossings,  where  a  few  only  assembled,  he 
only  tendered  his  thanks,  and  passed  on  ;  but  he  supposed 
that  some  of  his  might  have  been  longer,  especially  at 
Andover  ;  but  he  was  willing  to  call  speech-making  even  ; 
and  now,  as  you  have  got  your  hand  in,  why  not  alternate 
me  in  speech-making  on  the  remainder  of  the  route  to 
Concord?  This  was  said  with  such  a  comical  face,  that  I 
could  not  but  join  him  in  a  hearty  laugh  ;  for  it  was  well 
known  to  him,  as  well  as  myself,  that  the  desire  to  see 
and  hear  him  was  so  intense  that  the  most  eloquent  man 
that  ever  lived  would  not  be  tolerated  a  moment  as  his 
substitute. 

Our  acquaintance,  thus  facetiously  begun,  was  contin- 
ued in  a  free,  frank  and  easy  manner  ;  on  the  route,  at 
Pembroke,  where  we  staid  over  night,  and  at  all  conven- 
ient times  at  Concord.  We  had  some  most  glorious  chats  ; 
for  he  seemed  to  enjoy  his  relief  from  public  speeches  and 
receptions.  I  was  then  in  the  full  glow  of  early  manhood, 
and  delighted  with  him  ;  and  when  he  found  I  was  really 
interested  in  him  and  his,  freely  imparted  all  I  wished  to 
know.  He  had  a  keen  eye  to  all  he  saw,  and  gave  atten- 
tion to  all  he  heard,  yet  we  found  time  for  interesting 
chats  about  revolutionary  times,  his  family,  and  his  trip 
through  the  country.  On  my  part,  I  was  the  editor  of  a 


43 

newspaper  at  Concord,  and  fairly  posted  in  the  affairs  of 
the  State  and  Nation,  and  could  generally  give  him  all  the 
information  he  desired.  He  wished  to  know  about  the 
reception  at  Concord,  and  what  was  expected  of  him  ; 
and  I  gave  him  all  the  desired  information. 

We  found  the  scenes  on  the  route  in  Massachusetts  re- 
produced in  New  Hampshire  ;  for  at  all  the  hotels,  stores, 
villages  and  cross-roads,  multitudes  had  assembled  to 
greet  him  as  he  came.  It  was  in  the  rosy  month  of  June, 
and  roses  were  abundant,  especially  in  and  about  our  car- 
riage, in  the  shape  of  wreaths  and  bouquets.  At  times, 
our  carriage  became  so  much  encumbered,  that  we  had  to 
throw  them  overboard — in  solitary  places. 

When  about  to  meet  a  crowd  for  the  first  time,  I  asked 
for  instructions.  He  said,  "I  wish  you  would  speak  to 
the  driver  to  move  slow  in  this  crowd  ;  stop  near  the  cen- 
tre, and  not  start  till  bidden."  I  can  only  say  that,  all 
along  the  route,  he  was  greeted  by  men,  women  and 
children  ;  and  babies  were  presented  for  him  to  take  in 
his  arms  and  kiss.  At  one  place,  a  comely,  middle-aged 
lady  became  so  enthusiastic  that  she  pressed  forward,  put 
her  arm  around  his  neck  and  gave  him  a  fervent  kiss  on 
the  cheek.  The  General,  nothing  daunted,  returned  the 
compliment.  Two  things  I  recollect — one  was,  that  I 
had  no  objection  to  be  in  the  General's  place  ;  and  the 
other  was,  that  the  air  rung  with  loud  shouts  of  applause. 
All  along  the  route,  the  General  would  rise  in  his  car- 
riage, wave  his  hat,  and  return  thanks  for  the  attentions 
shown  him ;  but  he  made  no  formal  address  until  he 
reached  Concord. 

At  Deny  Centre  Village,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dana  was  in- 
troduced to  him  ;  and  at  his  request,  the  General  visited 
a  ladies'  school  near  by,  kept  by  Miss  Grant.  The  Doc- 
tor introduced  the  General  to  the  teacher  and  spoke  a  few 
words  in  regard  to  the  school.  A  hundred  and  one  fair, 


44 

fresh  and  healthy  young  ladies  composed  the  school,  all 
dressed  alike,  each  having  on  a  white  dress,  a  blue  sash 
around  the  waist,  and  a  full-blown  rose  in  the  hair.  They 
all  arose  when  we  entered,  and,  at  a  signal,  formed  round 
in  single  file  before  the  General;  and  each  one,  as  her 
name  was  announced  by  the  teacher,  took  him  by  tin- 
hand.  The  General  made  a  few  remarks  in  commenda- 
tion of  the  teacher  and  scholars,  and  we  retired. 

As  we  came  out  to  our  carriage,  an  excited  youth  was 
ringing  the  meeting-house  bell  with  all  his  might,  and  at 
the  same  time  intensely  gazing  at  the  General ;  but  as  we 
passed  on,  he  could  not  keep  the  bell-rope  in  hand  and  see 
the  General.  He  then,  dropped  the  rope  and  stood  out 
with  lifted  hands,  intensely  gazing.  But  the  bell  stopped. 
The  General  shook  his  sides  and  said  :  ' '  That  boy  thinks 
the  bell  is  as  enthusiastic  as  he  is,  and  will  keep  on  ring- 
ing while  he  is  looking." 

We  were  to  dine  at  the  Hotel  in  the  lower  village  of 
Deny,  on  the  turnpike,  a  mile  away.  When  we  came  to 
the  brow  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  village,  we  beheld 
what  an  excited  clergyman  might  call  "a  section  of  tin- 
day  of  judgment."  Small  and  great  were  indeed  there, 
forming  a  multitude  far  exceeding  anything  we  had  seen 
on  the  route.  As  we  approached,  the  cannon  on  the  hill 
beyond  began  to  utter  their  deep-toned  voices  ;  bands 
played,  flags  waved,  and  the  sound  of  many  voices  was 
heard  in  shouts  of  welcome.  The  Irish  blood  was  up, 
and  ringing  voices  betokened  healthy  lungs,  and  the  shouts 
were  overwhelming. 

The  crowd  gave  way  as  we  approached  the  door  of  the 
Hotel,  and  we  entered.  While  we  were  in  the  wash-room, 
a  message  came  that  the  feelings  of  the  people  were  so 
intense  to  see  the  General,  that  they  begged  to  see  him 
before  he  sat  down  to  dinner.  As  he  consented,  we  went 
out  on  to  the  upper  porch,  and  T  announced  GENERAL 


45 

LAFAYETTE.  The  shout  was  repeated,  if  possible  louder 
than  before  ;  and  when  we  were  about  to  retire,  a  revolu- 
tionary veteran  stepped  out  a  pace  or  two  in  front  of  the 
crowd,  and  with  a  loud  voice  made  an  impromptu  speech. 
The  General  made  a  short  reply,  bowed,  and  took  his 
leave.  At  the  table,  the  General  said,  that  was  one  of 
the  best  speeches  he  had  heard  since  he  came  to  America — 
short,  pungent,  patriotic,  and  to  the  point. 

The  Hall  was  large,  and  tables  all  full ;  and  many  of 
the  yeomanry  had  the  pleasure  of  dining  with  General 
Lafayette. 

Our  route  lay  through  Suncook  Village,  at  the  South 
end  of  Pembroke.  There,  Major  Caleb  Stark,  son  of 
Major  General  John  Stark,  lived ;  and  as  he  had  a  slight 
acquaintance  with  General  Lafayette  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  had  written  to  him  a  request  that  he  would  call  at  his 
house,  as  he  very  much  wished  to  see  him  and  introduce 
him  to  his  family.  We  called,  and  on  introducing  him  to 
the  General,  he  seized  his  hand,  and  began  an  animated 
speech  about  revolutionary  times,  which  did  not  seem  soon 
to  terminate.  His  family  was  standing  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  room  waiting  to  be  introduced ;  but  he  seemed 
to  have  forgotten  them.  I  was  acquainted  with  the  Ma- 
jor, but  not  with  his  family,  and  could  not  introduce  them 
myself.  In  this  dilemma,  the  spirited  Miss  Harriet  Stark, 
no  longer  able  to  brook  delay,  came  forward,  seized  Gen- 
eral Lafayette's  hand,  and  said  :  "  Permit  me  to  introduce 
myself  to  you  as  the  eldest  daughter  of  Maj.  Caleb  Stark, 
with  whom  you  are  talking,  and  the  grand-daughter  of 
Major-Gcncral  John  Stark,  the  hero  of  Bennington  ;  and 
now,  permit  me  to  introduce  you  to  my  mother,  brothers 
and  sisters  ;"  which  she  did,  with  her  usual  promptness 
and  energy. 

When  we  were  seated  in  the  carriage,  Gen.  Lafayette 
said  :  "Miss  Harriet  Stark  does  indeed  inherit  all  the  fire 


46 

and  spirit  of  her  grandfather,  and  would  have  been  a 
heroine  had  she  lived  in  the  exciting  scenes  of  revolution- 
ary times." 

Near  the  close  of  a  beautiful  summers  day,  one  of  the 
longest  in  the  year,  we  entered  upon  the  long  main  street 
of  Pembroke.  The  sun,  having  moved  round  his  long 
circle  in  the  sky,  was  resting  in  crimson  robes  on  the 
Western  hills,  and  soon  retired  for  the  night.  Xot  so 
Pembroke  village ;  that  was  wide  awake,  and  gave  the 
General  as  enthusiastic  a  welcome  as  he  had  received  any- 
where on  the  route.  Sometimes,  it  seemed,  the  less  the 
numbers  the  greater  the  zeal. 

We  had  used  due  diligence  and  travelled  rapidly  when 
not  hindered  ;  but  our  coming  had  been  so  well  advertised 
by  the  well-known  Walker,  the  stage  driver  on  the  route, 
that  it  was  known  to  all  people,  far  and  near.  And  so  it 
was,  that  we  were  not  only  detained  at  villages,  hotels 
and  cross-roads,  but  even  at  a  single  cottage.  Our  ap- 
proach seemed  to  have  been  watched ;  and,  at  the  report 
of  a  musket  or  bugle  blast,  people  would  rapidly  appear 
from  their  lounging  places,  where  none  were  visible  be- 
fore ;  and  the  General  must  needs  pause  a  moment,  take 
by  the  hand  those  near  by,  and  speak  a  few  words.  In- 
fancy and  age  were  alike  presented,  and  the  halt  and  the 
lame  were  sitting  in  easy  chairs  before  the  cottage  doors. 
At  one  of  these  cottages  an  invalid  old  lady,  "cadaverous 
and  pale,"  was  brought  by  two  men,  in  her  armed  chair, 
to  the  carriage;  she  seized  the  General's  hand  with  both 
of  hers,  and  with  tearful  eyes,  exclaimed  "Bless  the 
Lord!" 

At  Fiske's  hotel,  on  the  Main  street  of  Pembroke,  five 
miles  from  Concord,  we  rested  for  the  night.  A  large 
concourse  of  people  gave  the  General  a  hearty  welcome, 
and  shook  hands  with  him,  and  he  made  a  short  speech. 
On  my  suggesting  to  the  most  active  men,  that  the  Gen- 


47 

oral  had  had  a  long  and  fatiguing  day,  and  needed  rest ; 
the  people  promptly  retired,  and  Pembroke  village  eould 
never  have  been  more  quiet. 

After  supper,  the  General  leaned  back  in  his  easy  chair, 
and  said  he  should  sleep  better  if  he  sat  up  an  hour  before 
retiring  for  the  night ;  and  he  agreed  that  I  might  sit  up 
with  him  and  have;  a  pleasant  chat.  I  did  but  little  more 
than  make  .suggestions  and  ask  questions,  all  of  which  he 
readily  and  courteously  answered.  The  conversation  re- 
lated to  himself,  family,  revolutionary  times,  and  his  trip 
through  the  country.  So  interested  I  became,  that  I  took 
no  note  of  time,  and  am  fearful  that  I  kept  him  up  too 
long ;  but  he  did  not  seem  to  be  weary  or  impatient.  Of 
this,  and  other  conversations  I  had  with  him,  I  shall  al- 
lude to  before  I  close  ;  but  I  recollect  our  evening's  con- 
versation wound  up  by  his  saying  that  I  was  the  most  in- 
quisitive man  he  had  found  in  America ;  but  I  seemed  so 
much  interested  in  him  and  his,  that  it  was  with  pleasure 
he  had  given  me  the  information  I  desired. 

Wednesday,  June  22,  1825,  was  the  memorable  day  of 
his  reception  at  Concord.  A  committee  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, consisting  of  Stephen  P.  Webster,  of  the  Senate, 
and  four  members  of  the  House,  came  down  in  a  coach 
and  six  to  escort  the  General  to  Concord.  Six  white 
horses  were  attached  to  our  barouche,  Mr.  Webster  and 
the  General  aboard,  and  I  took  a  seat  in  the  stage  coach 
with  George  Washington  Lafayette.  The  procession 
started,  and  a  long  line  of  carriages  followed.  The  pro- 
cession was  met  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Dark  Plains,  op- 
posite the  lower  bridge  over  the  Merrimac  river,  by  twenty 
Independent  Companies  of  New  Hampshire  Militia,  the 
whole  commanded  by  Gen.  Bradbury  Bartlett,  of  Notting- 
ham, and  the  two  wings  by  Gen.  Joseph  Towle  of  Kp- 
ping,  and  Col.  William  Kent,  of  Concord.  After  the 
usual  salutes  and  evolutions,  the  procession  proceeded 


under  this  escort,  over  the  bridge,  up  Main  street,  around 
the  old  North  Church,  down  State  street  to  Pleasant 
street,  down  Pleasant  street  to  Main  street  again,  and  up 
Main  street  to  the  gate  of  the  State  House  yard.  The 
General  was  then  escorted  to  the  Hall  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  in  which  were  assembled  the  Governor, 
Council,  Senate,  Members  of  the  House,  Officers  of  the 
State,  and  invited  guests,  while  the  gallery  was  filled  with 
ladies. 

Gen.  Lafayette  was  introduced  to  Governor  Morrill  by 
Hon.  Edmund  Parker,  of  Amherst,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements.  Go v.  Morrill  arose,  and  gave 
him  a  cordial  welcome  in  behalf  of  the  Government  and 
people  of  the  State.  To  this  the  General  very  appro- 
priately replied  ;  and  here  all  formality  was  ended,  and 
each  individual  took  him  by  the  hand. 

In  the  area  below,  two  hundred  and  ten  revolutionary 
soldiers,  with  Gen.  Benjamin  Pierce  at  their  head,  were 
assembled  to  pay  their  respects  to  Gen.  Lafayette.  He 
was  introduced  to  Gen.  Pierce,  and  then  he  introduced 
him  to  each  individual  soldier.  It  was  a  slow  process, 
and  very  affecting,  for  all  shed  tears,  and  some  of  them 
"sobbed  aloud."  Some  of  them  were  recognized  as  his 
companions  in  arms  ;  among  whom  was  Lieut.  Robert 
Wilkins,  of  Concord.  He  reminded  the  General  of  a 
perilous  foraging  expedition  performed  at  his  request, 
which  he  remembered,  and  added  some  particulars  that 
the  modesty  of  the  Lieutenant  had  omitted. 

After  the  General  had  been  introduced  to  them  all,  he 
came  up  to  the  centre  of  the  line,  and  gave  them  a  few 
most  affectionate  parting  words.  There  was  not  a  dry 
eye  in  the  room  ;  and  although  I  was  only  a  looker  on,  I 
could  not  restrain  my  emotions. 

The  General  was  then  escorted  to  the  dwelling  house 
of  Col.  William  A.  Kent,  on  Pleasant  street,  which  was 


49 

his  headquarters  while  in  Concord.  This  house  was  then 
the  handsomest  in  the  village,  but  it  seems,  it  is  removed, 
and  a  more  modern  building  occupies  its  place. 

On  the  same  day,  a  public  dinner  was  given  in  honor  of 
the  General,  under  an  awning  in  the  State  House  yard, 
furnished  by  John  P.  Goss  of  the  Columbian  Hotel,  at 
which  the  revolutionary  soldiers  were  invited  and  attended 
in  a  body. 

At  this  feast,  speeches  were  made,  toasts  were  drank 
and  songs  were  sung.  A  volunteer  toast  was  given  by 
Gov.  Morrill,  another  by  Gen.  Lafayette,  and  a  third  by 
his  son.  Two  patriotic  songs  were  furnished  for  the  occa- 
sion— one  by  Col.  Phillip  Carigain  of  Concord,  and  the 
other  by  Moses  L.  Xeal,  Esq.,  of  Dover;  and  both  were 
well  sung  by  John  D.  Abbott  of  Concord.  But  of  the 
incidents  and  enthusiasm  of  this  feast,  why  need  I  speak  ? 
Concord  and  the  State  did  their  duty  fully,  leaving  noth- 
ing to  be  regretted  or  desired. 

Many  conventions  have  been  held  at  Concord.  It  has 
been  honored  by  the  visits  of  five  Presidents  of  the  United 
States — Washington,  Munroe,  Jackson,  Polk  and  Grant ; 
and  it  witnessed  the  great  "log  cabin"  display  of  1840  ; 
but  never  was  seen,  on  any  other  occasion,  such  a  public 
display  and  deep-toned  enthusiasm  as  attended  the  recep- 
tion of/ren.  Lafayette.  Words  are  inadequate  to  de- 
scribe it ;  and  could  it  be  done,  the  present  generation 
would  hardly  comprehend  or  believe  it. 

Concord  was  then  full  of  people,  and  it  could  hold  more 
then  than  now,  for  there  were  more  vacant  lots  and  fewer 
houses.  The  streets  were  running  over,  and  the  vacant 
lots  were  full  of  shanties,  awnings  and  people.  The  two 
cannons  on  the  hill  back  of  the  State  House  vied  with  each 
other  to  see  which  could  speak  the  loudest  without  burst- 
ing ;  and  the  solitary  church  bell  of  the  old  North  rang 
out  its  merriest  peal ;  and  although  it  found  no  answering 
7 


50 

voice  in  kind,  yet  the  martial  music,  shouts  of  men  and 
roar  of  cannon  kept  it  in  countenance  and  cheered  it  on. 

The  General  took  tea  with  Governor  Morrill  at  his  res- 
idence, dropped  in  to  hear  the  N.  H,  Musical  Society  a 
few  moments,  and  then  attended  a  grand  levee  in  the  area 
of  the  State  House  and  State  House  yard.  The  Capitol 
and  surrounding  buildings  were  illuminated,  and  a  vast 
throng  attended. 

At  this  levee,  I  introduced  my  wife  and  first-born  child 
to  the  General,  and  announced  his  name  to  be  George 
Washington.  He  shook  hands  with  the  wife,  took  the 
child  in  his  arms,  impressed  a  kiss  on  its  cheek,  looked  at 
the  mother,  and  then  at  the  child ;  and  in  a  subdued, 
"  still  small  voice,"  said  :  "I  am  reminded  of  the  loved 
and  the  lost !"  I  knew  it  reminded  him  of  his  own  be- 
loved wife ;  his  first-born  child ;  and  his  noble  friend 
Washington — all  dead!  So  impressive  was  the  scene, 
that  the  mother  wept  as  well  as  himself,  and  could  not 
speak  of  it  in  after  life  without  tears.  An  impulsive  man 
of  strong  sympathies,  like  Lafayette,  must  needs  have 
deep  sorrows,  as  well  as  great  joys. 

The  evening  wound  up  by  another  levee  at  Col.  W.  A. 
Kent's.  This  was  designed  more  especially  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  Concord.  The 
house,  street  and  surrounding  buildings  were,  so  well 
illuminated  that  it  was  as  light  as  day  in  and  around  it. 
I  stood  in  the  ample  portico  by  the  hour  to  see  the  anx- 
ious throng  pressing  forward  to  take  by  the  hand  and  pay 
their  respects  to  the  Nation's  Guest.  Men,  women  and 
children,  high,  low,  rich  and  poor,  with  one  intent,  came 
and  went  in  one  continuous  throng  till  late  into  night. 
It  was  interesting  to  see  the  contrast  between  the  comers 
and  goers.  The  comers  pressed  forward  with  hurried  step 
and  anxious  face  ;  while  the  goers  moved  along  with  quiet 
step  and  satisfied  air  to  their  respective  homes.  This  re- 


51 

markable  levee  was  more  than  half  a  century  ago,  and 
few  indeed  survive  that  attended  it. 

The  next  morning,  the  General  took  his  departure  for 
Portland,  Maine.  He  was  escorted  by  Col.  Andrew 
Pierce  of  Dover,  a  member  of  the  Senate,  and  Col.  Wil- 
liam Smith  of  Exeter,  one  of  the  Governor's  aids.  He 
went  by  the  way  of  Northwood  and  Durham,  stopped  at 
Dover  over  night,  at  the  mansion  of  Hon.  William  Hale  ; 
and  the  next  day,  went  as  far  as  Saco.  He  entered  Port- 
land early  on  Saturday  morning,  staid  there  over  night, 
and  at  7  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  he  quietly  left,  on  his 
return  trip.  He  came  back  the  same  way  he  went,  and 
staid  at  Northwood  Sunday  night.  On  Monday  forenoon, 
at  10  o'clock,  he  passed  through  the  main  street  of  Con- 
cord again  and  dined  at  the  Phoenix  Hotel.  In  all  his 
trip,  due  honors  were  paid  him,  and  his  receptions  were 
most  cordial  and  enthusiastic ;  can  well  be  imagined  and 
need  not  be  described. 

On  an  interview  with  him,  he  inquired  if  I  had  pub- 
lished an  account  of  his  reception  at  Concord ;  and  being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  requested  a  copy,  and  said, 
he  had  obtained  as  many  of  the  accounts  of  his  visits  as 
he  well  could,  so  that,  on  his  return  to  France,  he  might 
live  the  scenes  over  again,  and  call  to  mind  the  many 
valued  friends  he  had  left  behind.  On  handing  him  a 
copy,  he  gave  it  to  his  Secretary;  and  so,  I  suppose,  a 
copy  of  the  ' '  Xew  Hampshire  Statesman "  is  quietly  rest- 
ing in  the  library  of  Lagrange. 

On  Monday,  June  27,  1825,  a  six-horse  stage  coach 
for  General  Lafayette  and  suite,  and  a  two-horse  carriage 
for  baggage,  were  at  the  front  yard  gate  of  the  Capitol. 
I  staid  by  the  carriages,  while  the  General  went  up  into 
the  State  House  to  take  leave  of  the  Legislature,  then  in 
session.  While  he  was  gone,  a  controversy  arose  who 
should  drive  General  Lafayette.  It  was  deemed  such  an 


52 

honor  to  drive  a  carriage  with  the  General  aboard,  that  it 
was  sought  for  with  great  zeal.  It  appeared  that  the 
Northern  line  out  of  Concord,  having  the  newest  and 
most  elegant  coach ,  had  furnished  that ;  and  the  Southern 
line,  by  which  he  was  to  travel,  had  furnished  the  horses. 
Through  the  intervention  of  the  stage  agent,  a  compro- 
mise was  made — the  Northern  man  should  drive  one  relay 
of  horses,  and  the  Southern  man  the  remainder  of  the 
route. 

Just  at  this  time,  Dr.  Dixi  Crosby  of  Gilmanton,  after- 
wards professor  at  Hanover,  came  in  great  haste  to  be 
introduced  to  the  General  before  his  departure.  I  went 
with  him  to  the  State  House,  and  met  the  General  at  the 
steps.  After  an  introduction,  we  passed  down  the  walk 
to  the  carriages.  The  General  put  his  arm  around  me, 
pressed  me  to  his  side,  gave  a  cordial  invitation  to  visit 
Lagrange,  took  his  seat  in  the  coach,  waved  his  hand,  and 
I  saw  him  no  more.  Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  the 
General  took  leave  of  me  in  a  manner  unusual  to  him  ; 
for  that  was  his  mode  of  taking  leave  where  he  had  be- 
come well  acquainted  ;  and  was  precisely  the  way  he  took 
leave  of  the  Massachusetts  Governor's  aid  at  Methuen. 

The  driver  on  the  box  of  a  splendid  coach,  six  elegant 
horses  and  harnesses  to  match,  flags  each  side  of  the  stage 
box  and  flags  on  the  horses'  head-stalls,  with  Gen  Lafay- 
ette aboard,  stretched  himself  up  proudly  erect,  gathered 
up  his  ribbons,  six  in  hand,  cracked  his  whip  and  was  off 
at  a  bound.  It  seemed  that  the  horses  felt  the  excitement 
of  the  hour,  for  they  bounded  down  Main  street,  up 
Pleasant  street,  and  over  the  Asylum  Hill  at  full  speed, 
and  soon  were  lost  to  sight. 

The  General's  route  lay  through  Hopkinton,  Warner 
and  Claremont  in  New  Hampshire,  and  Windsor,  Mont- 
pelier  and  Burlington  in  Vermont.  He  spent  the  Fourth 
of  July  at  Albany,  took  a  steamer  for  the  city  of  New 


53 

York,  and  from  thence  went  to  Washington  City.  John 
Quincy  Adams  was  then  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  on  his  invitation  General  Lafayette  made  his  home  at 
the  AVhite  House,  to  rest,  for  rest  he  really  needed  after 
taking  such  an  exciting  and  laborious  tour  through  the 
24  States  of  the  Union.  A  Roman  General  might  well 
endure  a  triumph  for  a  day ;  but  who  can  stand  a  triumph 
for  hundreds  of  days  in  succession  ? 

When  the  General  signified  his  desire  to  return  to 
France,  the  new  frigate  Brandy  wine,  named  in  honor  of 
the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  in  which  he  bravely  fought  and 
was  wrounded,  was  brought  round  to  the  Navy  Yard  at 
Washington,  fully  equipped  for  sea,  and  all  things  need- 
ful for  his  comfort  put  on  board.  It  was  a  new  ship,  just 
finished,  and  had  never  tried  its  wings  on  the  ocean. 

On  the  6th  day  of  September,  1825,  the  birthday  of 
General  Lafayette,  at  the  Eastern  steps  of  the  White 
House,  President  John  Quincy  Adams,  in  presence  of  the 
officers  of  the  Government  and  a  vast  concourse  of  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  bid  the  Nation's  Guest  a  final  farewell,  in 
one  of  the  most  touching  and  eloquent  addresses  that  had 
been  delivered  to  him  in  all  his  travels  through  the  United 
States.  The  next  day  the  vessel  put  to  sea,  and  in  due 
time  arrived  safely  in.  France.  His  reception  was  most 
cordial — far  different  fi'om  the  manner  of  his  leaving ;  for 
the  King  of  France  had  learned  that  he  was  a  man  of  too 
much  importance  to  be  trifled  with  or  abused.  Bmt  re- 
tributive justice,  in  time,  was  measurably  done  ;  for  the 
arrogant  King,  who  abused  when  he  could,  and  decently 
treated  when  he  must,  in  the  three  days'  revolution  of 
1830  was  deprived  of  his  power,  despised  and  disowned, 
and  had  to  flee  his  country  to  save  his  own  life.  General 
Lafayette's  family  met  him  at  Havre,  where  he  landed, 
and  his  tenants  flocked  round  him  as  he  drew  near  La- 
grange,  and  gave  him  a  most  cordial  welcome. 


54 

Thus  came  and  thus  went  the  gallant  hero,  General 
Lafayette.  It  seems,  that  he  left  France  in  a  private 
vessel,  empty  handed,  insulted  and  oppressed ;  and  re- 
turned in  a  national  ship,  with  flags  of  two  great  nations 
flying  at  the  main  peak,  mizzen  and  fore,  heavy  laden  and 
triumphant. 

As  General  Lafayette  came  here  on  the  15th  of  August, 
1824,  and  returned  on  the  8th  of  September,  1825,  he 
remained  here  one  year  and  twenty-three  days.  Strike  off 
the  23  days  as  his  Sabbath  of  rest,  and  it  was  more  than 
that ;  and  as  the  number  of  States  was  then  24,  just 
double  the  months  in  a  year,  it  would  give  him  just  half 
a  month  to  visit  each  State,  provided  he  equally  divided 
his  time.  But  as  the  larger  States,  like  New  York  and 
Virginia,  required  more  than  his  average  time,  he  could 
devote  but  a  few  days  to  the  smaller  states.  He  devoted 
less  than  a  week  each  to  Maine,  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont. 

But  when  it  is  considered  that  he  continually  visited 
schools,  academies,  factories,  public  buildings,  libraries, 
legislatures,  and  many  of  the  curiosities  of  the  country ; 
and  then  went  through  a  continual  round  of  receptions, 
dinners  and  speeches,  and  travelled  thousands  of  miles 
over  this  extended  country,  often  in  stage  coaches,  over 
hills  and  rough  roads,  it  is  a  marvel  that  he  visited  the 
twenty-four  States  of  the  Union  in  the  time  and  manner 
he  did,  and  live.  There  were,  indeed,  steamboats  and 
canal  boats  in  those  days,  and  he  occasionally  made  use  of 
them  on  the  Eastern  and  Western  waters  ;  but  not  to  any 
great  extent,  as  they  did  not  often  move  in  the  direction 
he  wished  to  travel.  And  during  all  this  time  he  carried 
on  a  voluminous  correspondence,  which  caused  him  not  a 
little  trouble  and  fatigue,  notwithstanding  he  had  the  ser- 
vices of  an  efficient  private  secretary. 

While  he  was  here  he  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  some 


55 

of  our  greatest  orators  of  the  time  —  Henry  Clay,  at  Wash- 
ington city ;  Prof.  Edward  Everett,  at  Cambridge  Col- 
lege, Daniel  Webster,  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  last,  though 
not  least,  President  John  Quincy  Adams,  at  the  Capitol. 
Many  other  patriotic  and  eloquent  speeches  he  must  have 
heard,  as  well  as  many  tedious  and  dull  ones.  But  many 
speeches,  tedious  or  otherwise,  addressed  to  him  day  after 
day,  and  to  which  he  must  needs  make  a  reply,  must 
have  been  exceedingly  trying  to  the  nerves,  and  it  is  a 
marvel  that  he  sustained  himself  as  well  as  he  did. 

Thus  far,  I  have  endeavored  to  give  my  recollections  of 
General  Lafayette's  visit  to  this  country  in  1824  and  '25. 
It  is  more  than  half  a  century  ago,  and  I  have  to  trust  to 
my  minutes,  memory,  and  recollections  of  others  ;  and 
may,  therefore,  be  sometimes  mistaken  in  my  facts  ;  yet 
the  exciting  scenes  of  the  time  are  so  strongly  impressed 
on  my  mind  that  most  of  the  transactions  here  recited 
seem  as  fresh  and  vivid  as  the  events  of  yesterday.  I  was 
then,  as  now,  a  great  admirer  of  General  Lafayette.  I 
deem  him  one  of  the  greatest  patriots  of  the  age  in  which 
he  lived ;  yea,  one  of  the  greatest  patriots  of  any  age. 
We  fought  for  our  own  country,  firesides  and  friends.  He 
left  the  the  warm  precincts  of  Lagrange,  a  beautiful  and 
beloved  wife,  and  against  the  remonstrance  of  friends  and 
king,  fitted  out  a  vessel  at  his  own  expense,  and  sailed 
three  thousand  miles  away  to  fight  the  battles  of  another 
country,  struggling  for  existence  and  against  powerful 
odds.  He  could  not  hope  for  fame  —  hardly  success  ;  and 
yet  he  hazarded  his  life,  spent  his  substance  and  time. 
most  disinterestedly  and  nobly,  throughout  our  Revolu- 
tion, without  compensation  or  reward.  Xo  wonder  at  the 
great  enthusiasm  at  his  presence,  for  not  a  few  at  that  day 
knew  of  his  great  services  and  merits.  And  should  I  be 
accused  of  exaggeration  in  describing  the  scenes  of  the 
time,  I  can  only  say,  that  I  feel,  language  is  all  too  poor 
fully  to  describe  the  scenes  as  they  actually  occurred. 


Ob' 

I  turn  back  half  a  century  in  the  course  of  time,  and 
imagine  myself  standing  in  the  presence  of  Lafayette  ;  and 
the  exciting  scenes  pass  in  rapid  review  before  me ;  and 
hear,  or  seem  to  hear,  the  shouts  of  welcome  along  the 
streets,  and  the  booming  of  cannon  echoing  from  the  sur- 
rounding forests  and  hills.  And  I  feel  much  like  the 
veteran  soldier  of  many  battles,  who  recounts  the  perilous 
conflicts  of  early  days,  and  stretches  up  his  unpliant  limbs, 
"shoulders  his  crutch  to  show  how  fields  are  won."  AVill 
it  be  said  that  words  and  sounds  are  wind?  Granted,  but 
wind  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  elements  of  nature  —  it- 
prostrates  forests  and  tears  to  atoms  the  dwellings  of  men". 
Let  him  that  doubts  the  potency  of  sound  turn  to  the 
Bible  and  there  learn  that  the  tooting  of  ramshorns 
tumbled  down  the  walls  of  Jericho. 

If  any  young  man  desires  to  live  a  useful  life  and  per- 
form noble  deeds,  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  let  him  un- 
buckle his  vest,  expand  his  chest,  inflate  his  lungs,  and 
give  an  explosion  worthy  of  the  days  of  Layayette.  No 
one  knows  his  powers  till  he  tries  them,  and  noble  deeds 
are  never  done  without  an  attempt. 

The  triumphant  tour  of  Gen.  Lafayette  through  all  the 
States  of  the  Union,  at  the  time  and  under  the  circum- 
stances, was  the  most  remarkable  in  the  history  of  the 
world.  President  Munroe  was  the  last  of  revolutionary 
heroes,  and  the  people  were  much  divided  in  regard  to  his 
successor.  Members  of  Congress  nominated  William  H. 
Crawford,  of  Georgia ;  conventions  in  the  States  nomi- 
nated John  Quincy  Adams  of  Massachusetts,  Henry  Clay 
of  Kentucky,  and  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  of  Tennessee  — 
four  candidates,  and  all  alike  professed  republicans ;  the 
contest  was,  therefore,  more  personal  than  political,  and 
spirited,  sharp,  and  oftentimes  severe.  The  election,  in 
November,  resulted  in  no  choice  by  the  people ;  and  the 
House  of  Representatives,  voting  by  States,  elected  John 


57 

Quincy  Adams  by  a  majority  of  one  vote,  he  having  13 
out  of  the  24,  and  was  inaugurated  President  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1825.  Now,  during  this  severe  conflict,  Gen. 
Lafayette  visited  the  United  States,  and  passed  through 
the  entire  Union  in  such  a  succession  of  triumphs  that 
never  had  been  conferred  on  mortal  man  before.  And 
this  was  entirely  universal ;  not  a  discordant  voice  was 
heard ;  for  the  presence  of  Gen.  Lafayette,  like  oil  on  the 
troubled  waters,  hushed  to  rest  the  strife  of  partisan  zeal, 
and  all  joined  together  as  one  man,  and  gave  him  all  the 
glory  and  honor  they  had  the  ability  to  bestow.  And  this 
was  not  mere  adulation  or  outside  show,  often  rendered 
to  office  and  power ;  but  from  deep,  heartfelt  emotions  ; 
and  to  a  man  who  had  neither  office,  patronage  nor  power. 
And  those  who  are  inclined  to  despair  of  the  Republic, 
can  turn  with  pride  and  hope  to  this  bright  page  in  our 
history  and  be  comforted. 

And  now,  I  proceed  to  relate  some  of  the  conversations 
I  had  with  Gen.  Lafayette.  When  I  suggested  to  him 
that  he  had  made  so  many  patriotic  speeches  himself,  and 
so  many  had  been  made  to  him  with  his  approbation,  and 
these  would  be  published  in  France  and  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  King,  might  he  not,  under  some  plaus- 
ible pretext,  confiscate  his  three  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars and  imprison  him.  "  Ah,  sir,"  said  he,  "  I  am  well 
provided  against  that :  I  have  deposited  the  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  the  United  States  Bank  at  Phila- 
delphia, there  to  remain,  subject  to  my  draft,  and  will  be 
drawn  only  as  fast  as  I  wish  to  use  it.  The  Bank  has 
agreed  to  allow  me  six  per  cent,  on  the  money,  and  send 
it  as  I  wish  to  use  it,  without  expense  to  me.  Therefore, 
the  King  cannot  touch  that  if  so  disposed.  And  as  to 
annoying  or  imprisoning  me,  I  have  now  no  fears  of  that ; 
for  by  the  time  I  shall  have  returned  to  France  he  will  be 
well  aware  of  the  estimation  in  which  I  am  held  by  my 


58 

American  friends,  and  that  they  will  not  see  me  abused. 
If  the  King  should  make  an  attack  on  me,  my  American 
friends  would  rise  en  masse  and  vindicate  my  rights  ;  and 
a  war  with  America  would  dethrone  him  ;  for  the  Ameri- 
can trade  is  all  important  to  the  manufactures  of  France. 
I  shall,  therefore,  return  to  France  an  independent  man, 
financially  and  politically  ;  for  my  funds  he  cannot  touch, 
and  my  person  he  dare  not." 

I  then  inquired  of  him  if  these  many  great  public  dis- 
plays which  he  had  witnessed  for  nearly  a  year,  in  which 
he  had  taken  such  an  active  part,  had  not,  in  a  measure, 
affected  his  health,  and  whether  a  less  rapid  movement 
might  not  have  been  less  fatiguing.  He  replied  that  rapid 
movement  was  his  nature,  and  his  military  education  had 
confirmed  it  as  a  habit.  It  was  more  irksome  to  a  spirited 
horse  to  be  put  under  the  curb  than  to  take  his  own  nat- 
ural gait.  He  had,  however,  been  compelled  to  travel 
faster,  and  more  in  the  night,  than  was  agreeable  to  him  ; 
but  he  wished  to  fulfil  all  his  engagements  if  he  could ; 
and  it  was  unpleasant  to  feel  that  multitudes  ahead  were 
anxiously  awaiting  his  arrival.  But  delays  were  unavoid- 
able, and  the  best  arrangements  failed  of  performance, 
where  men,  women  and  children  were  in  the  programme  ; 
for  they  could  not  be  handled  with  the  precision  and 
promptness  of  a  military  company  ;  but  he  felt  that  all  the 
executive  officers  had  done  their  duty  to  the  utmost,  and 
rendered  his  visits  as  pleasant  as  possible.  On  the  whole, 
fatiguing  or  otherwise,  he  had  enjoyed  his  trip  greatly, 
and  the  delightful  scenes  through  which  he  had  passed 
could  never  be  effaced  from  his  memory. 

But  he  had  learned  something  by  experience  ;  toned 
down  his  feelings  and  improved  every  opportunity  for  rest. 
The  display  at  Xew  York  took  him  entirely  by  surprise, 
especially  in  extent ;  and  was  in  such  contrast  to  his  leav- 
ing France,  that  for  a  time,  he  was  completely  over- 


59 

whelmed,  and  felt  the  effects  of  it  afterwards.  But  since 
then,  he  had  so  much  disciplined  himself  that  he  had  wit- 
nessed displays  as  imposing,  if  not  as  extensive,  with 
composure  and  joy.  Perhaps  he  had  over-estimated  his 
power  of  endurance  ;  but  he  felt  that  he  should  finish  his 
tour  without  materially  impairing  his  constitution,  and 
when  he  had  taken  his  rest,  find  himself  in  his  usual  fair 
health. 

In  1784,  more  than  forty  years  before,  he  had  visited 
his  American  friends,  and  had  a  most  cordial  and  enthusi- 
astic reception  ;  but  that  was  immediately  after  a  success- 
ful revolution  ;  and  he  met  many  comrades  in  war,  as  well 
as  personal  friends,  and  an  enthusiastic  meeting  might  be 
expected  ;  but  after  a  generation  had  passed,  and  few  per- 
sonal friends  remained,  he  did  not  expect  anything  more 
than  a  generous  and  quiet  welcome.  He  could  not  fully 
comprehend  how  services  rendered  nearly  half  a  century 
before,  disinterested  and  patriotic  as  they  might  be,  should 
cause  such  an  enthusiastic  display  by  a  people,  generally, 
strangers  to  him,  and  in  the  heat  of  an  excited  canvass  for 
the  election  of  a  President  of  the  United  States.  He  had 
attended  these  enthusiastic  receptions  for  nearly  a  year, 
and  had  not  yet  fully  solved  the  problem.  Although,  like 
the  human  countenance,  they  were  similar,  yet  distin- 
guishable from  each  other.  It  had  been  gratifying,  as 
well  as  surprising,  to  witness  what  the  ingenuity  of  the 
American  people  could  do  ;  and  yet,  there  seemed  to  be 
so  much  affection,  gratitude  and  kindness  behind  it  all,  he 
did  not  feel  himself  worthy  of  so  much  homage.  Nor 
could  he  claim  or  appropriate  all  the  honors  to  himself, 
but  must  attribute  much  to  the  cause  he  advocated,  and  the 
great  love  of  liberty  which  characterized  the  American 
people. 

He  also  spoke  of  the  appearance  of  the  country,  and  the 
great  contrast  between  his  going  and  coming.  Although 


60 

he  had  taken  American  newspapers,  and  made  many  in- 
quiries of  his  American  visiting  friends,  yet  he  could  truly 
say,  the  half  had  not  been  told  him.  In  1784,  when  he 
left  this  country,  neither  Florida  nor  Louisiana  had  been 
annexed,  and  the  long  tier  of  States  on  the  East  side  of 
the  Mississippi  river  did  not  exist  as  States,  and  were 
scarcely  inhabited  by  civilized  man  ;  and  Washington  City 
itself  was  a  wilderness.  He  was  surprised  at  the  rapid 
improvement  throughout  the  Western  country,  and  the 
Eastern  did  not  lag  much  behind.  He  marvelled  greatly 
at  the  city  of  Rochester,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He 
said  he  found  in  the  revolutionary  woods  a  great  city,  so 
rapidly  and  recently  built,  that  the  very  founders  were  the 
men  talking  to  him. 

Although  he  had  spent  some  of  the  best  days  of  his  life 
in  aiding  the  American  people  to  gain  their  independence, 
he  regretted  it  not,  but  felt  more  than  amply  paid  for  all 
his  toils  and  troubles,  in  witnessing  its  noble  results.  In 
travelling  over  the  States  of  the  Union,  he  had  found 
improvements  far  beyond  all  his  expectations,  and  an 
intelligent,  prosperous  and  happy  people.  The  first  thing 
he  noticed  on  his  arrival,  was  the  absence  of  squalid 
poverty,  the  canaille,  sans  culottes  or  rabble,  such  a 
prominent  and  disagreeable  feature  in  Europe,  when  the 
people  assemble  en  masse  on  great  occasions.  One  great 
attractive  feature  in  the  public  displays,  was  the  school 
children,  who  appeared  by  hundreds  and  thousands, 
especially  in  the  large  cities,  who  were  neatly  clad,  often 
in  uniform,  and  appeared  healthy  and  happy.  It  was 
truly  affecting,  to  hear  the  joyous  shouts  of  childhood, 
ringing  out  shouts  of  welcome  in  tones  so  piercing  and 
shrill,  that  they  could  be  heard  above  the  din  of  the  hour. 
And  he  often  paused  as  he  passed,  rose  in  his  carriage, 
and  with  deep  emotion,  waved  his  hat  and  hand,  and 
bowed  his  head,  in  token  of  his  appreciation  of  their 


61 

hearty  welcomes.  He  found  the  great  mass  of  the  people, 
also,  well-clad,  intelligent  and  courteous ;  and,  indeed, 
he  felt  proud  of  the  country ;  and  could  see  no  reason 
why  it  should  not  improve  in  the  future  as  in  the  past, 
and  in  time  become  one  of  the  greatest  nations  on  earth. 
Thus  far,  his  anticipations  have  been  more  than  realized  ; 
for  his  24  States  have  become  38,  the  population  more 
than  doubled,  and  the  country  greatly  increased  in  size, 
by  the  addition  of  the  large  territories  of  Texas,  New 
Mexico  and  California,  counting  Alaska  nothing. 

When  I  signified  a  wish  or  desire  to  know  the  extent 
of  his  sacrifices  in  the  cause  of  American  Independence, 
he  saw  at  once  the  drift  of  my  wishes,  and  said  :  he  came 
here  at  first,  not  to  make  money,  but  to  spend  it.  His 
income  was  then,  counting  that  of  Lagrange  with  his  l#rge 
estates  in  the  South  of  France  together,  more  than  thirty- 
seven  thousand  dollars  a  year ;  and  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  spend  every  dollar  that  could  be  spared  in  the  cause  of 
American  Independence.  But  his  income,  though  ample 
for  an  individual,  was  of  but  Iktle  account  in  a  great  war. 
His  greatest  services,  therefore,  he  had  rendered  were  in 
persuading  others,  especially  the  Courts  of  Spain  and 
France,  to  furnish  the  needful  munitions  of  war.  His 
importunity  sometimes  had  been  so  great,  that  the  King 
of  France  said  to  his  ministers  in  his  presence,  that  he 
thought  Lafayette  would  strip  the  palace  of  Versailles  of 
its  furniture  to  clothe  the  American  army  ;  and  he  curtly 
replied,  ' '  /  would." 

I  then  said,  that  a  member  of  Congress  had  publicly 
stated,  in  the  House,  that  he  had  spent,  of  his  own  money, 
a  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars  in  the  cause  of  the 
American  revolution,  and  had  never  taxed  a  dollar  for  his 
great  services  in  thf-  cause.  "Ah,  well,"  he  said,  "  I 
never  stopped  to  count  the  dollars  ;  and  others  may  know, 
perhaps,  as  much  about  it  as  I  do  ;  but  this  I  know,  that 


62 

whatever  it  was,  it  went  freely  and  never  for  a  moment 
regretted ;  but  I  gloried  then,  as  I  do  now,  that  I  have 
made  so  good  a  use  of  what  fortune  had  placed  within  my 
control.  And  as  to  my  own  services,  whether  great  or 
small,  I  never  taxed  or  received  a  dollar  for  them,  either 
in  the  American  or  French  revolutions." 

I  then  said  to  him,  that  in  some  of  his  speeches  he  had 
said,  or  intimated,  something  like  a  desire  or  intention  of 
returning  to  this  country  and  spending  the  remainder  of 
his  days  with  us.  He  said  that  in  the  excitement  of  some 
of  his  receptions,  he  had,  probably,  intimated  something 
of  the  kind,  for  it  was  painful  to  think  of  leaving  so  many 
valued  friends  forever,  to  meet  them  no  more  upon  earth ; 
but  prudence  dictated  to  him  the  propriety  of  remaining 
in  the  milder  climate  of  France  in  his  old  age  ;  nor  should 
he  feel  so  much  at  home  anywhere  in  the  world  as  at  La- 
grange.  And  the  attachment  between  himself  and  family 
was  mutual,  and  they  would  never  consent  to  leave 
France.  He  had  then  four  children  :  Anastasia,  Virginia 
and  Carolina,  his  daughters ;  and  George  Washington 
Lafayette,  his  only  son ;  and  a  larger  number  of  grand- 
children. They  were  all  united  in  one  harmonious  house- 
hold, and  could  not  be  separated  while  life  lasted.  His 
first-born  daughter,  Henriette,  died  while  he  was  here  in 
the  American  revolution.  It  was  a  sad  affliction  to  him  ; 
still  greater,  if  possible,  to  the  mother  ;  and  he  was  sorely 
tempted  to  return  home  and  comfort  her  all  he  could,  but 
stern  duties  here  forbade. 

But  there  were  other  reasons  besides  these  why  he 
should  not  reside  here.  The  enthusiasm  now  was  too 
great  to  last.  In  time  it  must  come  down  to  the  realities 
of  everyday  life.  Should  he  live  here,  he  must  have  his 
associates  and  friends.  In  a  Republic  there  would  always 
be  two  parties,  at  least,  and  should  he  join  one,  he  would 
offend  the  other ;  if  he  joined  neither  he  would  offend 


63 

both.  And  then,  as  he  had  always  been  a  frank  and  out- 
spoken man,  his  position  in  society  might  not  be  altogether 
pleasant ;  and  he  had  a  feeling  that  he  still  might  be  of 
some  service  to  his  native  France. 

And,  moreover,  he  should  most  sadly  miss  his  noble 
friend,  Washington,  and  his  wife.  Although  he  had  paid 
his  devoirs  at  Mount  Vernon  and  ' '  wept  full  sore  "  at  their 
tomb,  they  never  could  be  restored  to  him  upon  earth ; 
and  he  should  miss  them  more  here,  where  he  had  been 
accustomed  to  see  them,  than  at  his  home  in  France.  No 
man  could  feel  more  grateful  than  himself  for  the  great 
favors  bestowed  and  the  kind  feelings  expressed,  and  he 
should  leave  America  sorrowing  that  stern  necessity  re- 
quired that  he  should  take  a  last  farewell  of  so  many 
noble,  generous  and  devoted  friends. 

His  friendship  for  Washington,  he  said,  could  not  be 
expressed  by  words.  It  was  the  friendship  of  David  and 
Jonathan  repeated.  Although  double  his  own  age,  and 
more  sedate  and  less  impulsive,  yet  their  cordial  intimacy, 
in  the  long  and  vexing  scenes  of  the  revolution,  had  never 
been  disturbed.  Although  unlike,  they  were  in  agreement 
with  each  other.  If  he  had  at  any  time  been  a  spur  to 
Washington,  more  often  he  had  been  a  curb  to  himself. 
Washington  had  been  censured  for  his  want  of  energy  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  war,  but  he  thought,  wrongfully. 
He  could  not  do  as  he  would  for  the  lack  of  means,  and 
could  not  disclose  to  the  public  his  destitution  without  in- 
forming the  enemy  also  ;  and  at  times,  had  the  enemy 
known  his  condition,  it  would  have  been  fatal. 

Washington  did  not  lack  energy,  but  it  was  regulated 
by  prudence.  He  never  made  long  speeches  to  his  army, 
or  boasted  of  what  he  had  done,  or  was  about  to  do  ;  and 
yet,  when  thoroughly  aroused,  the  stoutest  heart  would 
quail  before  him.  He  had  been  his  aid,  when  he  mounted 
his  charger  on  the  eve  of  a  battle,  rode  round  the  army, 


64 

took  his  position  in  front,  while  his  soldiers  passed  in  re- 
view before  him,  and  then  wave  an  adieu  with  his  hat, 
and  not  a  word  spoken ;  yet  his  face  would  glow  with 
emotion,  and  his  appearance  and  bearing  were  more  pow- 
erful than  words.  His  soldiers  understood  him,  and  were 
ready  to  fight  to  the  utmost ;  and  woe  to  the  foe  they  en- 
countered. 

General  Lafayette's  suggestion  that  he  might  yet  be  of 
some  service  to  his  native  France  seemed  rather  prophetic, 
for  in  the  three  days'  revolution  of  1830  he  was  called  to 
the  command  of  the  National  Guards,  and  through  his 
influence  Louis  Philippe  was  chosen  Citizen  King,  peace 
was  restored,  and  the  revolution  ended  without  bloodshed. 
Although  the  people  clamored  for  a  Republic,  and  would 
have  made  him  Chief  Magistrate,  yet  he  did  not  deem 
this  best  for  France  ;  and  having  no  ambition  for  power, 
he  respectfully  but  firmly  declined. 

When  speaking  of  the  incidents  of  the  revolutionary 
war,  the  General  said,  one  of  the  most  painful  duties  he 
had  to  perform  was  to  sit  on  the  court  martial  that  tried 
and  condemned  Major  Andre.  He  appeared  to  be  a  gal- 
lant officer,  and  not  intentionally  a  spy ;  but  as  he  did 
come  within  the  American  lines  to  induce  an  American 
officer  to  commit  treason,  he  was  by  military  law  a  spy, 
and  had  to  be  condemned.  Gen.  Washington  was  not 
disposed  to  deal  harshly  with  him,  and  permitted  him  to 
use  his  best  efforts  to  get  him  exchanged  for  Gen.  Arnold  ; 
but  that  proved  unsuccessful.  Washington  signed  his 
death  warrant  in  tears,  and  appointed  the  day  of  his  ex- 
ecution. When  that  arrived,  it  was  postponed  in  the 
hope  that  something  would  occur  to  relieve  the  stern  ne- 
cessity of  his  execution.  As  nothing  in  his  favor  appeared, 
Major  Andre,  at  last,  was  executed  on  the  2d  of  October, 
1780,  and  died  as  he  had  lived,  a  brave  man.  His  death 
was  a  sad  blow  to  his  mother  and  three  sisters  ;  for  he 


65 

was  the  favorite  of  the  family,  who  were  mainly  depen- 
dent on  him  for  support.  The  King  of  England,  how- 
ever, granted  the  mother  a  pension,  which  placed  them  in 
comfortable  circumstances. 

After  the  war,  Gen.  Arnold,  with  his  usual  effrontery, 
called  upon  the  family  of  Maj.  Andre,  at  their  residence, 
in  London.  The  answer  was  crisp  :  "Good  looking,  or 
otherwise,  he  could  not  be  admitted  ;  they  did  not  wish  to 
see  a  traitor."  Although  the  British  people  accepted  the 
treason,  they  despised  the  traitor,  and  he  had  no  friends 
among  decent  people  where  he  lived,  any  more  than  in 
his  native  country. 

The  General  said  that  Washington,  Hamilton  and 
Knox,  as  well  as  himself,  had  great  compassion  for  Gen. 
Arnold's  young  wife  ;  for  they  believed  her  innocent  of 
the  treason.  But  from  an  investigation  of  the  subject 
since,  I  think  they  were  all  mistaken,  for  I  believe  she 
was,  in  fact,  the  prime  mover  of  the  whole  matter.  And 
my  reasons  are,  that  she  belonged  to  a  decided  tory  family 
in  Philadelphia.  And  when  the  British  army  occupied 
that  city,  her  father's  house  was  a  resort  of  the  British 
officers,  and  they  were  welcome  guests  at  all  times,  es- 
pecially Maj.  Andre.  Miss  Shippen  (Arnold's  wife)  and 
Maj.  Andre  were  intimate  friends,  and  much  in  each 
other's  company  before  her  marriage,  and  they  corres- 
ponded both  before  and  after  that  event ;  and,  undoubt- 
edly through  her,  Gen.  Arnold  was  induced  to  enter  into 
a  negotiation  with  her  early  favorite.  But  what  renders 
the  fact  of  guilt  in  the  treason  certain  is  her  own  confes- 
sion. On  her  way  to  Philadelphia,  she  stopped  at  the 
residence  of  Mrs.  Prevost,  who  became  the  wife  of  Aaron 
Burr,  and  there  confessed  the  whole  matter.  She  said 
she  was  glad  to  throw  off  the  mask  and  assume  her  true 
character  before  her  intimate  friend  ;  for  she  had  induced 
and  helped  plan  the  negotiation  with  Maj.  Andre,  and  was 
9 


66 

sadly  disappointed  at  its  failure  ;  as,  had  it  been  success- 
ful, she  and  her  husband  would  have  taken  a  high  position 
in  the  British  Government,  and  possessed  a  fortune. 

In  regard  to  Maj.  Andre,  I  inquired  of  the  General  if 
he  had  any  interviews  with  him,  and  had  learned  anything 
of  his  early  history.  He  said  he  had  not ;  other  matters 
of  greater  importance  occupied  his  time,  and  he  knew 
nothing  in  particular  in  regard  to  Maj.  Andre  and  his 
family.  I  then  said  I  could  post  him  up  in  the  matter  to 
some  extent,  for  in  1821,  when  the  Duke  of  York  caused 
his  remains  to  be  removed  from  Tappan,  and  placed  in 
Westminster  Abbey,  and  a  mural  slab  placed  there  to  his 
memory,  I  gathered  up  some  fragments  of  his  life,  and 
wrote  a  short  sketch  at  the  time,  which  was  published. 

It  appeared  that  Maj.  John  Andre  was  born  in  London, 
in  1751 ;  but  his  parents  were  from  Geneva,  in  Switzer- 
land, and  he  was  sent  there  for  his  education.  On  his  re- 
turn he  entered  a  London  counting-house,  but  at  the  early 
age  of  eighteen  he  formed  a  romantic  attachment  for  a 
beautiful  lady  by  the  name  of  Honora  Sneyd,  who  returned 
his  passion,  and  they  became  engaged.  But  the  father  of 
the  lady  interfered,  and  the  premature  match  was  broken 
off.  Andre  then  abandoned  the  counting-house  and  en- 
tered the  army.  His  first  commission  is  dated  March  4, 
1771,  and  he  went  to  Germany,  and  did  not  return  to 
England  till  1773,  still  haunted  by  his  passion.  But,  in 
the  meantime,  his  lady-love  had  been  induced  to  marry 
another  person,  for  she  had  become  the  second  wife  of 
Richard  L.  Edgeworth,  the  father  of  the  celebrated  Miss 
Maria  Edgeworth.  In  1774,  Maj.  Andre  came  to  Amer- 
ica as  Lieutenant  of  the  Royal  English  Fusileers,  and 
was  captured  early  in  the  war,  with  other  officers,  by 
Gen.  Montgomery.  After  his  exchange,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  Adjutant-General  of  the 
British  army  with  the  rank  of  Major,  and  served  under 
him  until  his  death. 


B7 

His  romantic  attachment  followed  him  through  life,  and 
after  his  capture,  he  wrote  to  a  friend  that  he  had  been 
stripped  of  everything  but  the  miniature  of  Honora,  which 
he  painted  in  1769,  and  which  he  concealed  when  he  was 
searched;  and  added,  "possessing  that,  I  yet  think  my- 
self fortunate."  He  was  personally  pleasing,  and  gentle- 
manly in  his  bearing,  and  naturally  of  a  festive  and  ro- 
mantic disposition.  He  often  indulged  himself  in  poetry  ; 
much  of  which  seems  to  have  been  induced  by  his  early 
love.  He  designated  himself  as  Damon,  and  his  lost  lady 
as  Delia.  In  early  life  I  used  to  hear  said,  or  sung : — 

"  Return,  enraptured  hours, 
"  When  Delia's  heart  was  mine,"  &c. 

And  then  again — 

"  Ah !  Delia,  see  the  fatal  hour ; 

Farewell,  my  soul's  delight. 
O,  how  can  wretched  Damon  live, 

When  banished  from  thy  sight !  " 

His  varied  and  graceful  talents  and  engaging  manners 
rendered  him  a  general  favorite,  both  in  the  army  and 
among  the  people.  He  was  the  prime  mover  of  all  the 
elegant  amusements  in  camp  and  garrison.  He  also  in- 
dulged in  writing  poetical  squibs  or  lampoons  on  the 
American  army.  His  propensity  for  caricature  had  re- 
cently been  indulged  in  a  mock  heroic  poem,  in  three 
cantos,  celebrating  an  attack  upon  a  British  picket  by 
Gen.  Wayne,  and  the  driving  into  the  American  camp  a 
drove  of  cattle  by  Lee's  dragoons.  It  was  written  in 
great  humor  and  grotesque  imagery,  and  represented  that 
Mad  Anthony  lost  his  horse  on  that  "great  occasion." 
Three  cantos  were  printed  at  different  times  in  Riving- 
ston's  Gazette  ;  and  it  so  happened  that  the  last  canto 
was  printed  the  very  day  of  Andre's  capture;  and  ended 
with  the  following  ominous  lines  : — 


68 

"And  now  I  close  my  epic  strain, 

And  tremble  as  I  show  it;  — 
Lest  this  same  warrior-drover  Wayne 

Should  ever  catch  the  poet." 

His  strong  propensity  for  the  ludicrous  did  not  forsake 
him,  even  in  his  prison  ;  for  he  amused  himself  in  making 
a  ludicrous  sketch  of  himself  and  his  rustic  escort  under 
march,  and  presented  it  to  the  officer  in  attendance,  and 
pleasantly  said,  "This  will  give  you  an  idea  of  the  style 
in  which  I  had  the  honor  of  being  conducted  to  my  pres- 
ent abode." 

Whether  I  said  all  this,  less  or  more,  I  cannot  recollect, 
but  I  do  remember  that  the  General  said  in  reply  that  he 
was  a  very  pleasant,  gentlemanly  man  ;  very  popular  in 
the  American  camp  as  well  as  in  the  British,  and  that  he 
was  very  frank  on  his  trial  —  so  much  so,  that  it  was  not 
needful  for  the  Judge  Advocate  to  produce  any  witnesses. 
Hamilton  was  almost  in  daily  intercourse  with  him,  and 
deemed  him  a  well  educated  gentleman,  improved  by 
travel,  and  of  some  proficiency  in  poetry,  music  and  the 
fine  arts. 

But  I  do  not  know  how  to  give  the  public  any  better 
idea  of  the  feelings,  public  and  private,  in  regard  to  Maj. 
Andre,  at  the  time  of  his  trial  and  execution,  than  what 
is  contained  in  a  letter  from  General  Tallmadge  to  Col. 
Webb,  one  of  Washington's  aids.  The  letter  says : 
"Poor  Andre,  who  has  been  under  my  charge  almost 
ever  since  he  was  taken,  had  yesterday  his  trial ;  and 
though  his  sentence  is  not  known,  a  disgraceful  death  is 
undoubtedly  allotted  him.  By  heavens  !  Col  Webb,  I 
never  saw  a  man  whose  fate  I  foresaw,  whom  I  so  sin- 
cerely pitied.  He  is  a  young  man  of  the  greatest  accom- 
plishments, and  was  the  prime  minister  of  Sir  Harry 
Clinton  on  all  occasions.  He  has  unbosomed  his  heart  to 
me  so  fully,  and,  indeed,  let  me  know  almost  every  motive 
of  his  actions  since  he  came  out  on  his  late  mission,  that 


69 

he  has  endeared  me  to  him  exceedingly.  Unfortunate 
man !  He  will  undoubtedly  suffer  death  to-morrow ; 
and  though  he  knows  his  fate,  seems  to  be  as  cheerful  as 
if  he  were  going  to  an  assembly  !  I  am  sure,  he  will  go 
to  the  gallows  less  fearful  for  his  fate,  and  with  less  con- 
cern than  I  shall  behold  the  tragedy.  Had  he  been  tried 
by  a  court  of  ladies,  he  is  so  genteel,  handsome,  polite  a 
young  gentleman,  that  I  am  confident  they  would  have 
acquitted  him.  But  enough  of  Maj.  Andre,  who,  though 
he  dies  lamented,  falls  justly." 

"  Never  has  any  man,  suffering  under  like  circumstan- 
ces, awakened  more  universal  sympathy,  even  among  those 
of  the  country  against  which  he  had  practiced,  than  Maj. 
Andre.  His  story  is  one  of  the  touching  themes  of  the 
revolution  ;  and  his  name  is  still  spoken  of  with  kindness 
in  the  local  traditions  of  the  neighborhood  whers  he  was 
captured." 

What  a  contrast  between  him  and  General  Arnold  !  for 
the  latter  was  despised  when  living  and  execrated  when 
dead — and  justly.  Although  he  fought  like  a  tiger  in 
battle,  yet  his  courage  partook  more  of  the  nature  of  a 
reckless  robber  than  a  truly  brave  man.  And  as  to  treach- 
ery and  meanness,  he  had  no  equal.  When  his  innocent 
coxswain  and  six  bargemen  vigorously  plied  the  oar  at  his 
bidding,  and  put  him  safely  aboard  the  British  ship,  he 
coolly  turned  round  and  gave  them  up  as  prisoners  of 
war  !  A  fitting  climax  to  his  high  treason  !  But  when 
the  facts  became  known  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  he  ordered 
the  barge  given  up  and  the  men  released  at  once ;  and  so 
they  manned  the  boat  and  returned  to  their  kindred  and 
friends,  in  spite  of  the  mean  treachery  of  their  late  com- 
mander. 

A  romance  has  been  thrown  around  the  memory  of 
Maj.  Andre,  which  seems  to  increase  with  the  progress  of 
years  ;  while  the  name  of  Arnold  will  stand  conspicuous 


70 

to  the  end  of  time,  as  the  only  American  officer  of  note 
who  proved  traitor  to  the  glorious  cause  of  his  country. 

Mrs.  Arnold,  on  her  arrival  at  her  father's  home  in 
Philadelphia,  was  immediately  warned  by  the  Executive 
Council  that  she  could  not  remain  there.  Although  her 
father,  herself  and  connections  tried  every  means  to  have 
her  remain,  under  a  solemn  pledge  not  to  correspond  with 
her  husband ;  yet,  so  fully  did  the  Council  believe  her 
equally  guilty  with  her  husband,  that  her  request  was 
firmly  denied,  and  go  she  must.  She  was  sent  at  once  to 
her  husband  at  New  York  city.  She  feared  insult  and 
injury  on  the  way,  but  her  fears  were  groundless.  While 
the  whole  country  resounded  with  execrations  of  her  hus- 
band, and  his  effigy  was  dragged  through  village  streets 
and  burnt  at  the  stake,  or  hung  on  a  gallows,  she  passed 
the  whole  distance  without  injury  or  insult.  Indeed,  so 
scrupulous  were  the  populace  not  to  make  war  on  a  de- 
fenceless woman,  that  on  her  arriving  at  a  village  at  night- 
fall, where  they  had  prepared  to  burn  her  husband's  effigy, 
they  forebore,  returned  to  their  homes  and  left  the  wife  or 
traitor  to  sleep  in  peace. 

Once,  only,  she  visited  Philadelphia  again,  and  that  was 
about  five  years  after  her  exile.  And  although  the  war 
was  over  and  peace  established,  yet  she  was  treated  with 
such  scorn  and  neglect,  that  her  stay  was  short ;  she  left 
in  disgust,  and  declared  she  would  never  come  there 
again.  She  was  a  woman  of  fine  personal  appearance, 
good  education  and  many  attractions,  and  tried  hard  to 
sustain  a  fair  social  position  for  herself  and  husband  in 
England  ;  but  only  with  partial  success  ;  for  her  husband 
was  generally  "slighted  and  sometimes  insulted."  She 
died  in  London  in  the  Winter  of  1796. 

I  then  said,  the  course  he  took  in  the  French  Revolution 
was  an  enigma  to  some  of  our  people,  for  they  did  not 
distinctly  understand  what  he  would  have  done  had  he  the 


71 

power.  He  said,  he  supposed  it  might  be  so,  especially 
to  those  not  well  versed  in  the  events  of  t]ie  time  ;  but  he 
could  readily  explain  it.  He  was  not,  under  the  circum- 
stances, for  a  Republic.  He  thought  the  people  of  France 
were  not  in  a  condition  to  form  a  Republican  government, 
or  to  sustain  one  if  majde ;  and  after  events  showed  that 
he  was  right  in  that  opinion.  He  was  for  an  improved 
and  modified  Monarchy.  He  did  not  wish  to  destroy,  but 
to  reform.  Louis  XVI.  had  many  good  qualities,  but  he 
lacked  the  needful  firmness  and  energy  for  a  successful 
ruler,  especially  for  the  times  in  which  he  lived.  Marie 
Antoinette,  the  Queen,  was  spirited,  firm  and  aristocratic. 
The  King  would  seemingly  yield  everything ;  and  the 
Queen,  nothing.  He  found  himself  between  two  fires — 
the  extreme  Republicans  disliked  him  because  he  advocated 
a  constitutional  monarchy  ;  and  the  Court  party,  especially 
the  Queen,  did  the  same,  in  spite  of  the  great  services  he 
had  rendered  them,  because  he  advocated  a  reform.  At 
length,  the  Extremists,  led  by  Danton,  Marat  and  Robes- 
pierre, ruled  ;  imprisoned  the  King  and  Queen,  forbade 
the  army  to  obey  his  commands,  and  ordered  his  arrest. 
Satisfied  that  an  arrest  would  be  fatal ;  that  he,  like  other 
prisoners,  could  have  no  fair  trial,  he  felt  compelled  to 
quit  France  to  save  his  life. 

The  beginning  of  the  French  Revolution  may  be  said 
to  have  begun  at  the  destruction  of  the  Bastile  on  the 
14th  of  August,  1789.  The  enthusiasm  and  power  of 
the  mob  were  so  great,  that  this  horrid  citadel  in  Paris 
was  captured  in  four  hours,  which  was  surrounded  with 
seemingly  impassable  ditches,  inaccessible  towers,  and 
ramparts  covered  with  powerful  artillery,  and  which  had 
withstood,  for  twenty-three  days,  an  army  commanded 
by  the  great  Conde.  After  its  capture,  it  was  demolished 
to  its  very  foundations  ;  and  the  key  was  sent  by  Lafay- 
ette to  Gen.  Washington,  who  put  it  into  a  glass  case  ; 


72 

and  probably  it  may  be  seen  at  Mount  Vernon  at  the 
present  day.  Had  lawless  power  ended  with  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Bastile,  all  humane  people  would  have  been 
satisfied ;  but  one  might  as  well  try  to  direct  or  control  a 
tempest  as  a  lawless  mob. 

On  the  19th  of  August,  1792,  he  left  his  native  land 
to  seek  an  asylum  for  himself  and  family,  until  the 
"reign  of  terror"  was  over.  At  that  time,  he  was  at 
the  head  of  the  army,  far  away  from  Lagrange,  and  could 
not  go  there  and  live.  But  he  had  a  hope,  and  even 
belief,  that  his  wife  and  children  would  not  be  molested ; 
but  he  did  not  then  fully  realize  what  the  madness  of 
lawless  mobs  might  do. 

He  wished  to  come  to  America,  but  could  not  reach  the 
sea-coast ;  his  only  course  seemed  to  be,  to  flee  to  some 
neutral  territory,  and  there  find  an  asylum,  or  from  whence 
he  could  embark  for  America.  On  reaching  Rochefort  in 
Netherlands,  he  found  himself  in  the  neighborhood  of  an 
Austrian  army.  He  asked  for  a  passport  through  the 
country,  and  found  a  prison.  He  was  first  imprisoned  at 
Luxembourg,  and  then  placed  in  a  common  cart  and, 
closely  guarded,  was  transported  to  Wessel,  on  the  Rhine, 
within  the  Prussian  dominions.  Here  he  was  imprisoned, 
with  heavy  manacles  locked  on  his  hands  and  feet. 

Although  he  had  kept  up  his  courage,  and  determined 
to  brave  the  worst,  yet,  at  length,  nature  yielded  in  spite 
of  all  his  efforts.  The  cold,  damp  air  of  his  cell,  added 
to  the  hardships  he  was  compelled  to  endure,  brought  on 
sickness,  which,  for  a  time,  precluded  all  hope  of  recov- 
ery. The  hair  all  came  off  from  his  head,  and  he  was 
reduced  to  a  skeleton.  In  this  deplorable  condition,  the 
King  of  Prussia  said  he  could  be  released  from  prison,  if 
he  would  assist  in  conquering  France.  He  met  the  mes- 
sage with  the  scorn  it  merited ;  and  bade  the  officer  tell 
his  master  he  was  still  LAFAYETTE. 


73 

The  King;  enraged  at  this,  and  annoyed  at  the  great 
importunities  from  America  and  Europe  for  his  release, 
determined  to  send  him  to  a  more  gloomy  abode,  out  of 
his  dominion.  The  dungeons  of  Wessel  were  not  dark 
and  gloomy  enough  to  suit  the  monarch's  malignity;  so, 
without  warning,  he  was  again  hurried  into  a  cart  at 
night,  and  with  the  utmost  secrecy,  sent  to  the  dungeon 
at  Olmutz  in  Austria.  Austria  is  always  consistent  with 
herself,  and  a  fitting  place  for  such  a  horrid  dungeon  as 
the  fortress  of  Olmutz.  While  other  nations  have  im- 
proved, she  has  only  "marked  time,"  and  still  is  a  dark 
spot  on  the  face  of  civilized  Europe. 

Olmutz  is  a  city  of  12,000  inhabitants,  and  a  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  Vienna.  The  dungeon  is  on  an  island 
in  the  city,  and  is  a  relic  of  the  dark  ages.  Its  walls  are 
of  stone,  twelve  feet  thick,  and  surrounded  by  a  moat, 
more  or  less  filled  with  water.  Lafayette's  cell  had  a  door 
for  entrance,  and  one  window  two  feet  square,  with  a 
grate  outside  and  in.  The  wall  was  so  thick  that  the  sun 
never  shone  in  his  prison,  nor  could  he  see  any  outward 
objects.  He  always  suffered  from  its  dampness,  and  in 
the  Winter  severely  by  the  cold. 

As  he  entered  the  cell  it  was  announced  to  him  that  he 
never  could  come  out  again  alive,  nor  could  he  hold  any 
communion  witli  the  outer  world,  and  that  his  wife  and 
children  would  never  know  where  he  was  or  what  became 
of  him.  The  jailers  were  prohibited  from  pronouncing 
his  name,  and  all  the  prisoners  must  be  referred  to  only 
by  the  number  of  their  cells.  And,  under  the  pretence 
that  such  a  state  of  confinement  might  induce  suicide,  he 
would  not  be  accommodated  with  knives  or  forks. 

The  dimensions  of  his  room  were  about  10  by  12  feet, 

and  the  furniture  was  an  old  table,  broken   chair,   and   a 

sack   of  mouldy  straw.      A   scanty   allowance   of  coarse 

food  was  brought  him  twice  a  day.     Books  were  excluded, 

10 


74 

and  he  heard  no  human  voice,  except  the  gruff  tones  of 
the  jailer. 

After  Lafayette's  transfer  to  Olmutz,  all  knowledge  of 
the  place  of  his  confinement  was  excluded  and   unknown 
to  his  friends.      They  believed  him  alive   somewhere  in 
Prussia  or  Austria,  and  tried  hard  to  discover  his   dun- 
geon.    At  length,  after  he  had  been  imprisoned  for  three 
years — one  at  Weasel,  and  two  at  Olmutz, — a  daring  spirit 
assumed  the  task,  both  of  finding  where  he  was,  and  res- 
cuing him  if  possible.      This  was  Dr.  Erick  Bollman,  a 
young  German  physician,  who  had  just  finished  his  edu- 
cation and  obtained  his  degrees.     Although  he  had  never 
seen  Lafayette,  and  was  personally  unacquainted  with  him, 
yet  he  was  well  posted  in  his  public   career,   and   a  great 
admirer  of  his  character.     Not  having  sufficient  funds  of 
his  own  for  the  undertaking,  after  selling  his  books,  he 
procured  the  needful  amount  of  a  banker  in  Hamburg. 
Leaving  Hamburg,  he  assumed  the  character  of  a  traveller 
in  pursuit  of  knowledge.     He  soon  learned  that  Lafayette 
had  been  transferred  to  Austria,  and  borne   away  to   Ol- 
mutz.    He  then  selected  a  place  for  a  temporary  retreat 
if  successful,  some  twenty  miles  away,  near  the  frontier, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Olmutz.     He  did  not  know  for  a 
certainty  that  Lafayette  was  then  there,  and  could  make 
no  direct  inquiry,  for  that  would  create  suspicion  and  de- 
feat all  his  plans.     At  length,  he  discovered  that  several 
State  prisoners  were  confined  in  the  citadel  of  Olmutz, 
and  thought  it  probable   that   Lafayette   was   among  the 
number.     Acting  on  this  supposition,  Dr.  Bollman  visited 
the  hospital  in  that  city,  and  made  the  acquaintance  of  the 
first  surgeon  of  that   institution,  presuming  that  he  also 
visited  the  captives  in  prison.      He  could  not,  however, 
ask  him  anything  about  Lafayette  ;  but  obtained  the  knowl- 
edge he  desired  by  indirect  means. 

The  surgeon  proved  to  be  an  upright   and   intelligent 


75 

man,  of  good  sense  and  humane  feelings.  The  acquaint- 
ance seemed  to  be  mutually  agreeable  ;  and  after  several 

*>        o 

interviews  the  conversation  turned  on  the  effect  of  moral 
impressions  on  the  constitution  by  imprisonment,  when 
Dr.  Bollman  abruptly  drew  a  pamphlet  from  his  pocket 
and  remarked  :  "  Since  we  are  on  the  subject,  you  attend 
the  State  prisoners  at  the  Fortress,  Lafayette  among  the 
number,  and  his  health  is  much  impaired.  Show  him  this 
pamphlet,  and  tell  him  a  traveller  left  it  with  you,  who 
lately  saw  in  London  the  persons  named  in  it,  and  that 
they  are  as  much  attached  to  him  as  ever,  and  it  will  do 
him  more  good  than  all  your  drugs."  Perceiving  the  sur- 
geon did  not  know  what  to  reply,  he  changed  the  subject 
and  soon  left  him. 

Calling  at  the  hospital  in  a  few  days,  the  surgeon,  of  his 
own  accord,  said  he  had  given  his  pamphlet  to  Gen.  La- 
fayette, who  was  much  pleased,  and  wished  to  know  some- 
thing more  of  one  or  two  friends  named  in  it.  On  this, 
the  Doctor,  appearing  to  have  a  blank  piece  of  paper  about 
him,  but  prepared  for  the  emergency,  for  he  had  written 
it  all  over  on  one  side  with  invisible  ink,  (lemon  juice,) 
sat  down  and  wrote  a  few  lines  on  the  other  side  in  reply 
to  the  inquiries,  and  finished  by  saying,  "I  am  glad  of 
the  opportunity  of  addressing  you  these  words,  which, 
when  read  with  your  usual  warmth,  will  afford  to  a 
heart  like  yours  some  consolation."  The  italic  words  were 
a  sufficient  hint  to  the  quick-minded  Lafayette  ;  and  by 
the  heat  of  a  lamp,  made  the  words  readable  on  the  other 
side  of  the  paper. 

To  avoid  suspicion,  Dr.  Bollman  quitted  Olmutz  the 
next  day,  visited  Vienna  and  other  places,  and  at  length 
called  on  the  surgeon  at  Olmutz,  who  then  returned  him 
the  pamphlet.  On  examining  it,  he  found  the  margin 
had  been  written  over  with  invisible  ink  ;  from  which  he 
learned  that  Lafayette,  on  account  of  feeble  health,  was 


76 

permitted,  on  certain  days,  to  take  an  airing  in  an  open 
carriage,  and  that  must  be  the  time  to  release  him,  if  at 
all.  Dr.  Bollman  ascertained  that  Lafayette  had  a  driver 
on  the  box  of  the  carriage,  an  officer  by  his  side  and  two 
soldiers  standing  up  behind,  all  armed.  Deeming  that  too 
formidable  an  array  to  attack  alone,  he  went  to  Vienna  to 
find  at  least  one  coadjutor.  But  where  could  he  find  a 
daring  spirit  like  himself?  Thus  far,  he  had  not  dared  to 
reveal  his  secret  to  any  man  ;  and  to  whom  could  he  re- 
veal it  without  an  almost  certainty  of  being  betrayed  ? 

In  this  dilemma,  he  visited  the  leading  hotel  in  Vienna, 
and  there  saw  and  became  acquainted  with  a  young  man, 
whom  he  found  to  be  of  uncommon  talent,  decision  and 
enthusiasm.  This  was  Col.  Francis  Kinlock  Huger,  of 
South  Carolina,  at  whose  father's  house  Lafayette  first 
lodged  when  he  came  to  America  in  1777.  Francis  was 
then  a  mere  child  of  three  years,  and  all  he  remembered 
of  Lafayette  was,  that  he  used  to  dandle  him  on  his  knee 
when  at  his  father's  house.  His  father,  Maj.  Benjamin 
Huger,  was  now  dead,  but  his  mother  was  still  alive  ;  and 
he,  having  come  to  his  majority,  was  making  the  tour  of 
Europe.  Although  he  had  but  a  slight  recollection  of 
Gen.  Lafayette,  yet  he  had  heard  him  so  much  spoken 
of  in  his  family,  and  so  well  posted  up  in  his  course  in 
the  Revolution,  that  he  was  ready  to  "do  and  dare"  any- 
thing on  his  account.  It  seemed  that  he  was  providen- 
tially there  at  the  time,  for  it  is  not  probable  that  Dr. 
Bollman  would  have  found  any  other  reliable  man  who 
would  have  joined  him  in  such  a  perilous  attempt.  Col. 
Huger  at  once  entered  into  all  his  plans  with  enthusiastic 
zeal,  and  devoted  himself  to  their  execution. 

Two  good  saddle  horses  were  at  once  purchased,  and  a 
faithful  groom  to  attend  them.  In  this  plight  they  entered 
Olmutz,  and  put  up  at  a  hotel  as  travellers.  A  relay  of 
horses  was  obtained,  and  the  groom  took  them  to  the 


77 

place  of  rendezvous.  On  the  8th  day  of  November,  the 
carriage  with  Lafayette  was  seen  emerging  from  the  town 
gate,  and  the  rescuers  followed  after.  They  were  armed 
with  pistols,  but  loaded  only  with  powder,  for  they  did 
not  intend  to  take  life,  and  were  only  to  be  used  for 
intimidation.  At  two  or  three  miles  from  the  gate  the 
carriage  left  the  high  road,  and  passed  into  a  less  inhab- 
ited tract  and  more  open  country.  At  length  Lafayette's 
carriage  stopped,  and  he  and  the  officer  got  out  to  walk. 
The  carriage,  with  the  guard,  drove  on,  but  kept  in  sight. 
This  was  the  time,  no  doubt,  for  the  rescue  ;  and  gallop- 
ing up,  Dr.  Bollman  dismounted,  seized  the  officer's 
sword,  but  before  he  could  draw  it  from  the  scabbard,  the 
officer  seized  it  also,  but  still  kept  one  hand  hold  of  La- 
fayette. In  the  struggle  all  three  came  to  the  ground  to- 
gether. Dr.  Bollman  had  the  officer  by  the  collar,  and 
held  him  fast :  Col.  Huger  then  dismounted,  released  La- 
fayette, gave  him  a  bag  of  gold,  mounted  him  on  his 
horse,  and  he  was  off  and  out  of  sight  in  a  minute. 
When  Lafayette  was  gone  the  strife  ceased.  The  guard, 
instead  of  helping  the  officer,  leaped  from  the  carriage 
and  ran  the  nearest  route  to  the  prison  to  give  the  alarm  ; 
and  the  officer,  when  released,  did  the  same. 

The  rescuers,  then,  thought  it  was  time  to  make  their 
own  escape  ;  but  they  had  but  one  horse.  The  calculation 
had  been  for  both  to  ride  the  same  horse,  and  both 
mounted.  But,  unfortunately,  they  had  given  Lafayette 
the  one  they  designed  for  that  purpose,  and  the  other 
would  not  carry  double,  reared  and  threw  them  both  off. 
Col.  Huger  then  said:  "This  will  never  do.  Gen.  La- 
fayette wants  you  ;  mount  the  horse  and  be  off,  and  I  will 
take  care  of  myself."  Dr.  Bollman  soon  reached  the  place 
of  retreat,  but  Lafayette  was  not  there  !  He  could  have 
escaped  himself  well  enough,  but  would  not,  until  he  had 
ascertained  what  had  become  of  General  Lafayette.  It 


78 

seems,  he  had  mistaken  the  direction,  taken  the  wrong 
K*ad,  found  no  relays  of  horses,  and  rode  some  twenty 
miles  until  he  had  exhausted  his  horse  as  well  as  himself. 
The  result  was,  that  all  three  were  separately,  and  un- 
known to  each  other,  taken  prisoners  and  put  in  separate 
prison  cells.  Gen.  Lafayette  was  returned  to  his  miser- 
able dungeon  again,  put  in  irons,  and  still  more  harshly 
treated.  Three  short  days  only  had  he  been  permitted  to 
breathe  the  pure  air  of  heaven  ;  and  then,  returned  to  his 
former  dismal  abode,  with  no  hope  that  his  sufferings 
would  be  ended  except  by  death. 

.  Col.  Huger  was  chained  to  the  floor  in  a  small  arched 
dungeon,  six  by  eight  feet,  without  light,  and  with  only 
bread  and  water  for  food  ;  and  once  in  six  hours,  by  day 
and  night,  the  guard  would  enter  with  a  lantern,  examine 
the  walls  and  each  link  in  his  chains.  To  his  earnest  re- 
quest to  know  what  had  become  of  Dr.  Bollman  and 
General  Lafayette,  he  received  no  answer.  To  his  still 
more  earnest  request,  that  he  might  send  to  his  mother  in 
America,  merely  the  words,  "I  am  alive,"  he  received  a 
rude  refusal. 

Dr.  Bollman  was  also  put  in  chains,  and  conducted  to 
a  dismal  dungeon  half  under  ground.  Only  a  faint  light 
came  in  through  an  oblique  aperture  made  through  a  thick 
wall.  Neither  light  nor  books  were  allowed  him,  and  his 
food  was  limited  to  what  could  be  procured  at  four  cents 
a  day  !  The  trial  of  Bollman  and  Huger  was  protracted 
during  the  whole  Winter.  The  government  proceeded 
with  caution,  for  it  was  believed  that  others  were  in  the 
plot,  as  it  was  not  deemed  hardly  possible  that  two  young 
men,  unaided  and  alone,  should,  out  of  mere  patriotic 
motives,  attempt  the  rescue  of  one  personally  a  stranger 
to  them.  At  length,  by  the  aid  and  strong  efforts  of 
Count  Metro wsky,  a  nobleman  living  near  the  prison,  and 
a  friend  of  Dr.  Bollman's  family,  after  eight  months' 


79 

imprisonment,  they  were  both  released  on  two  weeks' 
additional  confinement.  After  their  release,  they  left 
Austria  at  once,  and  just  in  time  ;  for  in  a  few  hours  after 
they  had  left  Olmutz,  orders  came  from  Vienna  for  their 
re-arrest ;  and  a  second  trial  might  have  ended  fatally. 
But  they  were  out  of  Austria  and  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
minions  of  arbitrary  power. 

Col.  Huger,  having  had  enough  of  his  European  tour, 
returned,  at  once,  to  gladden  the  heart  of  his  mother  in 
South  Carolina.  She  hailed  him  as  one  risen  from  the 
dead,  for  she  had  given  him  up  for  lost. 

In  1824,  General  Lafayette  and  Col.  Huger  accident- 
ally met  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Although  they  had 
not  seen  each  other  for  thirty  years,  they  both  recognized 
each  other  at  once,  and  had  a  cordial  meeting.  Col. 
Huger  accompanied  the  General  in  his  trip  up  the  Hud- 
son ;  and  when  they  returned  to  New  York  city,  theyx 
were  obliged  to  part.  Col.  Huger  was  on  his  way  to 
Boston  on  business  ;  and  General  Lafayette,  on  his  way 
to  Washington  City.  The  General  regretted  very  much 
he  could  not  return  to  Boston  and  introduce  his  attempted 
deliverer  to  his  friends  there.  But  he  did  the  best  he 
could  ;  for  he  gave  him  a  cordial  letter  of  introduction  to 
Mayor  Quincy,  and  begged  him  to  show  him  all  kind 
attentions,  the  same  as  to  himself;  and  the  Mayor  did  it 
handsomely,  for  Col.  Huger  was  greatly  lionized  during 
his  visit. 

It  is  not  known,  that  Dr.  Bollman  and  the  General 
ever  met  after  that  eventful  day  of  the  rescue.  In  a  few 
years,  the  Doctor  came  to  America,  became  acquainted 
with  Herman  Blannerhassett,  a  countryman  of  his,  on 
that  paradise  of  an  island  bearing  his  name,  in  the  Ohio 
river.  There,  Blannerhassett  had  built  an  elegant  man- 
sion house,  and  surrounded  it  with  beautiful  walks,  gar- 
dens and  flowers.  But  there,  the  cruel  spoiler  came,  a.- 


80 

in  blessed  Eden  of  old,  and  induced  him  to  leave  all  to 
destruction,  and  join  Col.  Burr  in  an  expedition  down 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  to  colonize  lands  in  Mex- 
ico, or  treason  against  the  United  States,  whichever  it 
might  be.  Col.  Aaron  Burr  and  Blannerhassett  were 
arrested  for  treason,  and  acquitted.  Dr.  Bollman  joined 
his  friend  in  the  expedition,  but  it  does  not  appear  that 
any  crime  was  alleged  against  him.  He  then  proceeded 
to  England,  and  became  an  eminent  physician  in  London, 
published  a  treatise  on  banking  and  another  on  hygiene, 
and  died  there  in  1821.  General  Lafayette  met  two  of 
Dr.  Bollman's  daughters  in  Philadelphia  in  1824,  when 
on  his  way  to  Washington  City. 

The  Blannerhassett  Island  comprises  an  area  of  some 
180  acres  ;  is  beautiful  by  nature,  and  had  been  much  im- 
proved by  art.  Here  the  proprietor  and  his  accomplished 
««wife  and  interesting  children  resided  in  quiet  happiness 
and  peace.  When  the  spoiler  came  and  seduced  him  from 
his  secluded  retreat,  an  Ohio  mob  invaded  the  premises, 
burnt  the  buildings,  destroyed  all  the  improvements,  and 
laid  waste  the  whole  island.  He  never  returned  to  the 
island  again,  but  after  his  acquittal  went  to  his  native  land 
in  Europe,  and  died  there  broken  hearted.  Who  owns 
the  island  now,  or  the  condition  it  is  in,  I  have  no  means 
of  knowing. 

The  reason  why  the  mob  invaded  the  island  was  because 
they  believed  Col.  Burr  was  plotting  treason,  and  pre- 
paring to  make  war  on  the  United  States,  and  as  Blanner- 
hassett was  associated  with  him,  he  was  found  in  bad 
company,  and  had  to  suffer  the  consequences,  guilty  or 
not. 

It  seems  to  us  strange,  that  the  rescue  of  Lafayette,  so 
sagaciously  planned  and  promptly  executed,  should  be 
productive  of  such  sad  results.  It  may  well  be  asked, 
why  General  Lafayette,  an  invalid  as  he  was,  should  be 


81 

sent  off  alone,  through  a  strange  country,  with  only  slight 
directions,  hastily  given.  Had  it  been  successful,  it  would 
have  saved  two  years  of  agony  that  cannot  be  imagined, 
much  less  described.  His  fetters  were  so  closely  fastened 
to  his  ancles  as  to  cause  great  pain ;  the  iron  band  around 
his  waist  had  a  chain  attached  to  it,  and  fastened  to  the 
wall ;  but  so  short,  that  he  could  not  comfortably  lie 
down.  Xo  light  or  fire  was  permitted  in  his  cell,  and  he 
was  denied  suitable  food  or  decent  clothes.  In  the  severe 
Winter  of  1795,  he  suffered  severely  from  cold,  and  be- 
came miserably  emaciated.  And  to  add  to  his  bodily 
sufferings,  mental  anxieties  were  added.  He  was  made 
to  believe  that  he  was  only  reserved  for  public  execution, 
and  that  his  chivalrous  deliverers  had  already  perished  on 
the  scaffold.  Nor  was  he  permitted  to  know  whether 
his  family  were  yet  alive,  or  had  fallen  under  the  revolu- 
tionary axe. 

But  the  failure  of  the  rescue  was  not  all  evil.  It  gave 
his  friends  and  his  wife  a  clue  to  his  place  of  confinement 
and  the  condition  he  was  in.  After  her  husband  had  been 
imprisoned,  she  herself  was  arrested  and  sent  to  her  hus- 
band's estates  in  the  South  of  France,  320  miles  from 
Paris,  and  there  kept  as  a  State  prisoner  for  more  than  a 
year.  When  her  husband's  estates  were  confiscated,  as 
well  as  her  own,  she  was  brought  to  Paris  and  there  im- 
prisoned. By  the  unwearied  exertions  of  Washington 
and  our  minister  at  Paris,  she  was  released,  and  at  liberty 
to  go  whither  she  would.  She  might  have  come  to  Amer- 
ica, as  she  was  cordially  invited  to  do ;  but,  just  at  this 
time,  the  news  of  the  attempted  rescue  of  her  husband 
reached  her  ears  ;  and  that  settled  at  once  the  course  she 
should  pursue.  Sending  her  son,  George  Washington, 
to  George  Cabot  of  JBoston,  to  be  by  him  sent  to  Mount 
Vernon,  she  procured  passports  from  the  American  Min- 
ister at  Paris  for  herself  and  two  daughters,  and  started 
11 


82 

for  Vienna.  She  had  then  three  children — two  daughters 
and  one  son.  Anastasia  was  16,  Virginia  13,  and  George 
Washington  11.  The  first-born  daughter,  Henrietta,  died 
in  childhood,  when  her  father  was  in  the  revolutionary  war. 

On  her  arrival  at  Vienna,  the  Emperor,  Francis  I., 
received  her  coldly ;  but  after  earnest  importunity,  her 
request  to  visit  her  husband  was  granted, -but  with  such 
conditions  that  he  supposed  she  would  not  accept  them. 
They  were,  that  she  should  carry  nothing  with  her  for.  the 
comfort  of  her  husband,  and  never  be  permitted  to  come 
out  of  the  prison  while  she  lived.  Harsh  and  barbarous 
as  the  terms  were,  she  accepted  them  at  once,  and  she  and 
her  twro  daughters  entered  the  prison.  The  meeting  can- 
not be  described  by  wrords  ;  hardly  imagined  !  The  prison 
walls  rung  wTith  a  joy  that  had  never  echoed  there  before  ! 
For  three  long  and  grevious  years,  he  had  not  heard  the 
least  news  of  his  family ;  and  there  his  beloved  wife  and 
two  daughters  stood  before  him  !  Separate  apartments 
were  assigned  the  daughters,  each  one  to  her  solitary 
room  ;  and  only  eight  hours  in  the  twenty-four  were  they 
allowed  to  be  with  their  parents  ;  and  then  they  were  con- 
stantly annoyed  by  the  visits  of  the  keeper,  under  the 
plea  that  they  might  be  plotting  mischief. 

The  imprisonment  of  the  daughters,  in  its  details,  par- 
took more  of  the  nature  of  satanic  malevolence  than  any- 
thing else.  They  had  committed  no  crime  ;  were  neither 
accused  nor  suspected  of  any  ;  and  yet,  their  confinement 
was  made  to  be  needlessly  irksome  and  oppressive.  But 
eight  hours  in  the  twrenty-four  were  they  allowed  to  be 
with  their  parents  ;  and  the  other  sixteen,  were  confined 
in  separate  rooms,  and  not  allowed  to  be  company  for 
each  other  ! 

After  an  imprisonment  for  more  than  a  year,  the  emaci 
ation  and  feebleness  of  Madame  Lafayette  were  so  great, 
that  her  husband  urged  her  to  ask  leave  to  go  into  more 


•  83 

healthy  quarters  for  a  time,  to  recruit  her  health.  She 
did  ;  and  what  was  the  answer  ?  Such  as  a  despot  might 
give.  She  and  her  daughters  might  leave  the  prison  as 
soon  as  they  pleased,  but  never  to  return  there  again,  and 
immediately  quit  the  kingdom.  Harsh  as  the  terms  were, 
her  husband  urged  her  to  accept  them  for  the  sake  of  her 
children  as  well  as  herself.  But  she  turned  to  him  at  once 
and  firmly  said:  "My  dear  husband,  I  had  rather  die 
with  you  here  in  prison,  than  live  at  the  beautiful  La- 
grange  without  you."  He  urged  her  no  more,  and  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  they  all  were  destined  to  die  there 
together  ! 

But  Providence  had  determined  that  Lafayette  and  his 
wife  and  daughters  should  not  perish  within  the  prison 
walls  of  Olmutz.  Austria  might  well  spurn  the  entreat- 
ies of  America  and  England,  and  frown  at  the  words  of 
reproach  echoed  over  the  continent ;  yet  she  quailed  un- 
der the  stern  mandates  of  Napoleon.  The  commands  of 
the  "Conqueror  of  Italy"  must  be  obeyed,  and  Lafayette 
and  his  family  were  set  free.  On  the  23d  of  September, 
1797?  Lafayette,  after  an  imprisonment  of  over  five  years, 
and  his  wife  and  daughters,  after  a  confinement  with  him 
for  twenty-two  months,  were  permitted  once  more  to  see 
the  light  of  day,  and  breathe  the  pure  air  of  heaven.  And 
all  these  enormities  and  afflictions  were  endured  without 
judgment  of  law,  or  even  the  accusation  of  crime  ! 

But  there  must  have  been  a  ccmse  for  his  imprisonment, 
and  what  was  it?  Simply  this:  He  was  a  decided  be- 
liever in,  and  a  powerful  advocate  for,  rational  liberty  and 
freedom ;  and  that  kings  should  not  possess  arbitrary 
power,  but  be  subject  to  laws,  as  well  as  their  subjects. 
When  he  was  first  arrested  and  imprisoned,  the  joyous  tid- 
ings were  sent  to  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe,  and  caused 
a  jubilee  among  all  advocates  of  arbitary  power.  They 
hardly  dared  kill  him  by  a  public  execution,  but  to  kill 


84 

him  in  such  a  manner  that  none  should  know,  outside  of 
prison  walls,  what  became  of  him. 

The  motives  of  Napoleon  in  liberating  Lafayette  are 
not  distinctly  known,  for  he  had  not  caused  his  name  to 
be  stricken  from  the  "proscribed  list,"  and  he  could  not 
return  to  France.  He,  therefore,  sought  a  retreat  on 
neutral  ground,  and  went  to  Holstein,  a  dependency  of 
Denmark ;  and  at  the  little  town  of  Welmoldt  he  enjoyed 
rest  and  repose.  Little  George  was  sent  for,  and  the 
family  were  once  more  all  together.  But  his  patrimony, 
as  well  as  that  of  his  wife,  had  been  confiscated,  and  he 
was  destitute  of  the  comforts  of  life.  In  this  emergency, 
two  English  ladies,  in  token  of  their  deep  sympathy,  sent 
him  four  thousand  pounds ,  which  fully  relieved  him  of  all 
his  immediate  wants.  The  names  of  these  benevolent 
ladies  are  not  known.  The  banker  who  sent  the  money 
was  not  at  liberty  to  disclose  their  names,  so  that  the 
General  never  knew  who  his  benefactors  were. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1799,  the  Directory  was 
overthrown  and  the  Consulate  established,  with  the  vic- 
torious Napoleon  at  its  head.  When  this  was  known  to 
Lafayette,  he  went  to  Paris  and  demanded  of  Napoleon 
his  rights  as  a  citizen.  His  demand  was  tacitly  granted, 
his  name  was  stricken  from  the  "proscribed  list,"  and  La- 
grange  restored  to  his  wife  ;  but  his  large  estates  in  the 
South  of  France  were  never  restored  to  him.  To  the 
beautiful  estate  of  Lagrange,  situated  40  miles  East  of 
Paris,  consisting  of  a  thousand  acres  of  productive  land, 
on  which  is  an  ancient  castle  of  ample  dimensions,  Gen. 
Lafayette  brought  his  family,  and  they  were  all  together 
again  on  their  native  soil.  And  at  this  delightful  retreat 
the  family  lived  the  remainder  of  their  days.  A  secluded 
life  the  General  lived,  during  the  whole  of  Napoleon's 
reiom  ;  although  urged  at  times  to  take  hijfh  office  in  his 


85 

On  the  24th  of  December,  1807,  died  the  devoted  wife, 
Madame  Lafayette.  Although  not  unexpected,  yet  it  was 
a  shock  the  family  could  not  bear  with  composure  ;  and 
when  she  gave  them  her  last  smile,  bathed  her  death-bed 
in  tears.  She  lived  ten  years  after  her  release  from  the 
prison  of  Olmutz,  but  never  fully  recovered  her  previous 
health.  Her  maiden  name  was  Anastasia  de  Noailles, 
and  daughter  of  the  Duke  de  Ay  en.  Her  married  life  was 
thirty-four  years,  and  she  was  forty-seven  years  old  at  the 
time  of  her  death.  Her  life  is  one  of  the  brightest  in  the 
annals  of  female  heroism,  conspicuous  alike  for  her  pub- 
lic charities  and  domestic  virtues. 

In  1814  passed  another  act  in  the  great  drama  of 
French  politics.  Napoleon  was  dethroned,  sent  to  Elba, 
and  Louis  XVIII.  was  seated  on  the  throne  of  his  fathers. 
In  eleven  months  Napoleon  appeared  on  the  stage  again, 
dethroned  the  king,  and  occupied  his  place.  After  the 
battle  of  Waterloo,  Napoleon  was  deposed,  and  the  king, 
by  the  power  of  his  allies,  was  restored  to  his  throne 
again.  In  all  these  changes  Lafayette  took  no  active  part. 
He  called  once  on  the  king,  was  decently  treated,  but 
never  called  again.  From  1818  to  1824  he  had  been 
elected,  and  sat  in  the  Chamber  of  Deputies  ;  but  in  the 
last  named  year,  the  king  put  forth  all  his  power  and  de- 
feated his  election.  He  thought  that  was  a  favorable  time 
to  visit  his  friends  in  America,  which  he  had  for  a  long 
time  contemplated  to  do.  And  his  son  George  was  very 
anxious  to  visit  a  country  he  had  heard  so  much  of,  and 
seen  so  little,  and  that  little  was  in  early  youth.  His 
secretary  and  son  were  taking  notes  of  the  trip  through 
the  country,  and  on  their  return  to  France,  would  be 
looked  over,  and  if  anything  could  be  made  out  of  them 
worthy  of  publication,  and  were  printed  in  his  lifetime,  I 
should  have  a  copy. 

Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  the  narrative  of  Gen.   La- 


86' 

fayette's  imprisonment  and  attempted  rescue  was  mainly 
derived  from  him.  On  all  other  subjects  he  was  free  to 
converse,  but  on  this  his  voice  faltered,  and  he  became 
silent ;  tears  were  on  his  face,  and  I  perceived  that  the 
remembrance  of  his  sufferings  was  too  painful,  and 
changed  the  subject.  But  most  of  the  facts  are  obtained 
from  an  account  given  by  Dr.  Bollman  himself,  and  pub- 
lished in  a  magazine  soon  after  the  event. 

Nor,  let  it  be  supposed  that  his  friends  were  inactive 
and  silent  during  all  his  long  imprisonment.  General 
Washington,  then  President  of  the  United  States,  did  all 
he  could  in  his  official  capacity,  as  well  as  a  private  citi- 
zen, to  relieve  him  from  his  loathsome  dungeon.  A  num- 
ber of  leading  papers  in  London  and  Hamburg  published 
a  series  of  articles  exposing  in  sarcastic  and  cutting  lan- 
guage the  infamous  conduct  of  Prussia  and  Austria,  to  the 
scorn  of  all  Europe.'  Their  perfidy  in  detaining  a  pris- 
oner, contrary  to  the  rights  of  nations  and  humanity,  was 
condemned  with  such  eloquence  and  scathing  criticism 
that  the  tyrants  were  goaded  to  speak  in  their  own  defence. 
And  what  did  they  say  ?  Only  this  :  That  the  freedom 
of  Gen.  Lafayette  was  incompatible  with  the  safety  of 
the  present  governments  of  Europe  !  And  this  was  their 
only  apology  for  their  inquisitorial  cruelties  to  him. 

Two  attempts  were  made  in  the  British  Parliament  to 
liberate  Gen.  Lafayette — one  on  the  17th  of  March, 
1794,  and  the  other  on  the  16th  of  December,  1796.  At 
the  latter  date,  Gen.  Fitzpatrick,  after  a  feeling  and  elo- 
quent introduction,  introduced  a  resolution  into  the  House 
of  Commons  requesting  the  King  to  intercede,  in  such  a 
manner  as  he  deemed  proper,  for  the  deliverance  of  Gen. 
Lafayette  and  the  other  State  prisoners.  He  was  sup- 
ported by  Col.  Tarlton,  who  had  fought  against  Lafayette 
in  Virginia,  during  our  revolution  ;  and  by  Fox,  Wilber- 
force,  Sheridan,  and  Greg;  and  opposed  by  Pitt,  Burke, 


87 

"Windham  and  Dundas.  Fox,  in  particular,  pleaded  the 
cause  of  Lafayette  in  one  of  the  most  impassioned 
speeches  he  ever  made  ;  but  all,  all' in  vain  !  The  motion 
was  lost  by  the  large  majority  of  132  against  32. 

On  the  Journal  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
of.  the  3d  of  March,  1797,  will  be  found  a  record  which 
will  stand  through  all  time,  as  a  dark  spot  in  the  annals 
of  our  country.  It  is  some  relief,  however,  to  know  that 
it  was  as  odious  to  the  citizens  of  the  country  then  as  it 
is  to  the  present  generation. 

On  that  day,  the  orator  and  and  Statesman,  Robert 
Goodloe  Harper,  introduced  a  resolution  into  the  House 
of  Representatives,  requesting  the  President  to  take  such 
measures  as  he  might  deem  expedient  to  adopt,  to  restore 
to  liberty  our  fellow-citizen,  Gen.  Lafayette. 

Nothithstanding  this  resolution  was  advocated  with  the 
glowing  eloquence  of  a  Harper,  it  was  rejected  by  a  yea 
and  nay  vote  of  52  to  32  !  This  result,  no  doubt,  may 
be  attributed  to  the  cold,  calculating  fear  of  foreign  en- 
tanglements and  disputes  ;  and,  therefore,  the  gallant  La- 
fayette, who  had  spent  his  time  and  substance,  and  peril- 
led his  life  in  the  cause  of  our  independence,  must  be  left 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  a  tyrant,  with  a  fair  prospect  of 
perishing  in  a  loathesome  dungeon  !  But,  thanks  to  God, 
the  stern  mandates  of  Napoleon  effected  what  neither  the 
British  Parliament  nor  the  American  Congress  dared  to 
attempt ! 

General  Lafayette  was  born  on  the  6th  of  September, 
1757,  in  the  province  of  Auvergne,  which  is  in  the  central 
part  of  the  Southern  division  of  France,  and  three  hund- 
red and  twenty  miles  South  of  Paris.  The  estate  consisted 
of  five  thousand  acres  of  land,  surrounded  by  mountains 
in  the  distance,  and  presents  the  most  delightful  scenery 
to  be  found  in  France.  The  ancestral  Chateau  de  Chavag- 
nac,  where  he  was  born,  was  built  in  1701,  on  the  site  of 


88 

a  more  ancient  one  destroyed  by  fire.  It  stands  amid  an 
amphitheatre  of  mountains,  commanding  a  magnificent 
view  of  encircling  mountain  summits.  Interesting  as  the 
birthplace  of  Lafayette  may  be,  it  contains,  at  this  day, 
hardly  any  memorials  of  himself.  Even  the  room  in 
which  he  was  born  is  not  known ;  and  a  single  portrait  of 
him,  taken  in  his  boyhood,  is  the  only  evidence  of  his 
early  residence  there. 

He  belonged  to  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  noble  fam- 
ilies of  France.  The  family,  from  time  immemorial,  was 
noted  for  ability,  patriotism  and  integrity ;  so  that  the 
name  of  Lafayette  was  but  another  name  for  integrity  and 
honor.  His  father  was  a  Colonel  in  the  French  army, 
and  killed  in  the  battle  of  Minden,  a  few  months  before 
he  was  born.  The  care  of  his  infancy  and  youth  was  left, 
therefore,  entirely  to  his  mother,  who  was  a  woman  of 
education,  excellent  qualities  and  rare  attainments. 

He  entered  college  in  Paris  at  the  early  age  of  12  ;  was 
fond  of  books,  and  obtained  a  good  classical  as  well  as 
military  education.  His  love  of  books  continued  through 
life,  and  was  a  great  source  of  enjoyment  in  his  leisure 
hours. 

In  1770,  at  the  age  of  14,  his  mother  died ;  and  as  he 
was  an  only  child,  he  was  left  sole  heir  to  a  large  estate  ; 
and,  although  surrounded  by  parasites  and  flatterers,  never 
indulged  in  dissipation,  but  applied  his  great  income  to 
some  useful  purpose,  rather  than  spending  it  in  riotous 
living,  as  young  men  often  do. 

In  April,  1774,  he  was  married,  at  the  early  age  of  17, 
to  the  Countess  Anastasie  de  Noailles,  daughter  of  the 
Duke  d'Ayen,  and  brought  to  his  own  a  heart  full  of 
virtue,  courage  and  conjugal  affection,  as  well  as  large 
estates  ;  although  she,  herself,  was  the  greatest  treasure 
of  all.  Her  estates,  together  with  his  own,  gave  him  a 
revenue  of  more  than  $37,000  a  year. 


89 

He  became  a  great  favorite  at  Court,  especially  with  the 
brilliant  but  aristocratic  Queen,  Marie  Antoinette,  who, 
in  after  life,  when  he  advocated  reform,  turned  against 
him  with  the  unforgiving  and  relentless  ferocity  of  an 
enraged  woman.  She  was  an  Austrian  Princess  ;  and  as 
her  cousin  was  on  the  throne  at  the  time  of  Lafayette's 
imprisonment  at  Olmutz,  her  influence,  dead  or  alive,  no 
doubt  followed  him  there,  and  caused  his  extremest  suffer- 
ings. 

General  Lafayette  was  a  precocious  youth  ;  or,  rather, 
seemed  to  have  no  youth  at  all,  for  he  appeared  to  leap 
from  childhood  to  manhood  at  a  bound ;  and  while  others 
of  his  own  age  were  at  school,  he  had  obtained  his  own 
education,  and  was  in  the  battle  field,  bravely  contending 
for  the  rights  of  man. 

General  Lafayette  would  be  deemed  a  man  of  note 
among  thousands.  He  was  nearly  six  feet  in  height, 
broad-shouldered,  robust,  rather  inclined  to  corpulency ; 
full  and  florid  face,  light  complexion,  and  large,  full  and 
expressive  eyes.  He  had  great  power  of  face ;  and  the 
muscles  of  his  forehead  and  face  would  readily  move,  and 
instantly  change  "from  grave  to  gay,  from  lively  to 
severe."  His  perceptions  were  very  acute ;  and  he  would 
readily  adapt  himself  to  all  persons,  times  and  occasions. 
On  his  last  visit  here,  he  had  been  a  widower  eighteen 
years  ;  and  when  he  took  leave  of  President  Adams  at 
Washington,  Sept.  6,  1825,  it  was  on  the  anniversary  of 
his  birthday  ;  and  he  was  exactly  sixty-eight  years  of  age. 
He  spoke  the  English  language  very  well,  but  slower  than 
a  native  American.  He  said  when  he  left  this  country  in 
1784,  he  could  speak  English  quite  fluently;  but  being 
40  years  out  of  practice,  it  took  time  to  express  his 
thoughts  in  that  language. 

General  Lafayette  lived  nine  years   and   eight   months 
after  he  left  this  country  in  1825,  very  much  at  his  ease, 
12 


90 

highly  respected,  and  often  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies.  At  the  beautiful  Lagrange,  surrounded  by  his 
family  and  friends,  full  of  honors,  at  peace  with  himself 
and  all  the  world,  he  went  to  his  rest  May  20,  1834,  aged 
seventy-six  years  and  eight  months  —  the  last  surviving 
Major-Gene ral  of  the  revolutionary  war. 

"  He  sleeps  his  last  sleep;  he's  fought  his  last  battle; 
No  sounds  can  awake  him  to  glory  again." 

His  death  caused  a  great  sensation  in  Europe,  as  well 
as  in  America,  and  due  honors  were  paid  to  his  memory. 
He  was  buried  in  a  small  cemetery  near  Paris,  by  the  side 
of  his  wife  ;  and  in  a  few  years  his  son,  George  Wash- 
ington Lafayette,  was  laid  there  also.  Now,  all  his  chil- 
dren are  dead,  and  there  buried  ;  but  numerous  grand- 
children, and  great-grandchildren,  inhabit  the  beautiful 
Lagrange. 

It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  Gen.  Lafayette  was 
a  most  remarkable  man.  So  varied  were  the  incidents  of 
his  life,  and  so  momentous  the  affairs  of  the  world  at  the 
time  he  lived,  that  his  character  cannot  be  delineated  in  a 
sentence.  Let  us  allude  to  a  few  prominent  incidents  in 
his  life  : — 

In  the  first  place,  he  was  a  kind,  humane  and  benevo- 
lent man.  In  1787,  afire  occurred  on  Beach  street,  Bos- 
ton, which  destroyed  one  hundred  buildings,  sixty  of  which 
were  dwelling  houses  of  people  in  moderate  circumstances. 
When  the  news  reached  France,  the  General  sent  $1500  to 
Samuel  Beck,  to  be  distributed  among  the  sufferers.  In 
1778,  he  rescued  a  British  Captain,  about  to  be „  executed 
by  Gen.  Arnold.  Near  the  American  camp  he  found  a 
soldier,  meanly  clad,  sitting  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  with  his 
elbows  on  his  knees  and  his  hands  up  to  his  face  in  deep 
melancholy.  On  inquiring  the  cause  of  his  grief,  the  sol- 
dier said,  he  had  lately  enlisted,  but  that  he  was  so  sadly 
poor  that  he  had  left  his  wife  and  two  children  at  home 


91 

entirely  destitute.  The  General  at  once  relieved  the  fam- 
ily and  clothed  the  soldier.  An  Irishman,  who  had  pub- 
lished a  newspaper  in  Ireland  of  liberal  principles,  had  to 
flee  his  country,  and  came  to  Philadelphia.  He  needed 
$400  to  establish  a  paper  there.  The  General  gave  him 
the  sum,  and  he  established  his  paper  and  became  a  patri- 
otic and  useful  citizen.  On  taking  leave  of  Capt.  Allyn, 
of  the  ship  Cadmus,  he  made  valuable  presents  to  all  the 
officers  and  crew. 

In  1786,  he  wrote  to  Gen.  Washington  to  assist  him  in 
devising  a  plan  to  elevate  the  African  race.  He  says, 
"Let  us  unite  in  purchasing  a  small  estate,  where  we  may 
try  the  experiment  to  free  the  negroes  and  employ  them 
only  as  tenants."  But,  impatient  of  delay,  he  tried  the 
experiment  alone,  by  purchasing  an  estate  at  Cayenne,  in 
South  American  waters,  with  all  the  negroes  upon  it ; 
freed  them,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  finding  his  plan  suc- 
cessful. In  this,  he  had  the  cordial  sympathy  of  Wash- 
ington, Adams,  Franklin,  Jefferson,  Madison,  Patrick 
Henry,  and  others.  Washington  wrote  to  him,  under 
date  of  May  10,  1786,  "Your  late  purchase  in  Cayenne, 
with  a  view  of  emancipating  your  slaves,  is  a  generous 
and  noble  proof  of  your  humanity.  Would  to  God  a  like 
spirit  might  diffuse  itself  generally  into  the  minds  of  the 
people  of  this  country."  We  have  already  alluded  to  his 
contributing  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars  of  his 
own  funds  to  the  cause  of  American  Independence,  besides 
giving  arms  and  uniforms  to  the  Continental  army.  But 
why  pursue  this  subject  further?  His  whole  life  was 
characterized  by  kind  acts,  considerate  charities  and  noble 
deeds.  Turn  we,  then,  to  some  of  the  tokens  of  regard 
bestowed  upon  him  : 

In  the  time  of  the  .He volution,  Congress  presented  him 
an  elegant  sword  ;  and  a  similar  one  was  presented  him  at 
New  York  in  1824,  by  the  Ninth  Regiment  of  Artillery. 


92 

Dr.  Franklin's  cane  was  presented  to  him  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  at  Bergen,  N.  J.,  he  was  presented  with  a  gold- 
headed  cane,  made  out  of  an  apple  tree  that  shaded 
Washington  and  Lafayette  in  1779.  At  Mount  Vernon, 
he  was  presented  by  Mr.  Custis  with  a  ring,  containing 
Gen.  Washington's  hair,  and  his  Masonic  sash  and  jewels. 
At  Baltimore,  he  was  presented  with  an  elegant  carriage 
by  the  makers,  and  he  took  it  with  him  on  his  trip  through 
the  Southern  States  in  1825.  But  I  turn  to  things  more 
etherial  and  sublime.  He  has  been  complimented  and 
honored  with  innumerable  speeches,  addresses  and  letters  ; 
with  the  deep-toned  voices  of  cannon  and  bells,  the  cheers 
of  musical  bands,  and  the  shouts  of  welcome  from  millions 
of  people,  all  combined  in  one  harmonious  strain,  echoing 
from  the  great  lakes  to  the  greater  gulf,  and  from  the 
Atlantic  ocean  to  the  great  rivers  and  mountains  of  the 
West.  And  his  name  will  live — live,  not  only  in  the 
hearts  of  a  grateful  people,  but  in  the  names  of  moun- 
tains, forts,  counties,  towns,  corporations  and  societies, 
as  well  as  in  the  names  of  children  and  children's  children 
to  the  latest  generation. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  was  conferred  upon  him 
by  many  colleges  ;  the  right  of  citizenship,  by  the  United 
States  ;  and  the  freedom  of  States  and  cities  was  granted 
to  him  and  his  posterity.  But  to  show  he  was  not  ambi- 
tious of  worldly  honors,  it  should  be  stated  that  many  of 
the  high  offices  and  honors  he  declined.  In  the  French 
revolution,  he  refused  to  be  made  King ;  and  afterwards, 
when  he  was  strongly  urged  to  become  President  of  a 
French  Republic,  he  firmly  declined.  He  was,  also,  ten- 
dered high  offices  by  Napoleon,  but  declined  them  all. 

In  1803,  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  Louisiana,  by 
President  Jefferson,  and  urged  to  accept  it ;  but  he  respect- 
fully but  firmly  declined  the  high  honor. 

And  to   show   his   disinterested   patriotism,   it  is  only 


93 

needful  to  state  that  he  refused  to  receive  any  compensa- 
tion for  all  his  services  and  expenditures  in  both  the  French 
and  American  revolutions.  When  urged  by  the  French 
government  to  receive  some  compensation  for  all  his  great 
services,  he  replied  that  "  his  fortune  had  been  sufficient 
to  place  him  above  want,  and  had  sufficed  for  two  revolu- 
tions ;  and  if  a  third  should  occur,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people,  the  whole  should  be  devoted  to  it." 

In  addition  to  all  this,  and  to  show  he  was  a  man  of 
uncommon  liberality,  it  should  be  stated  that  Congress, 
in  1803,  granted  him  11,000  acres  of  land,  to  be  located 
in  the  newly  acquired  territory  of  Louisiana.  His  agent 
located  a  thousand  acres  adjoining  the  city  of  New  Or- 
leans. In  1807,  Congress,  seemingly  unconscious  of  this 
location,  granted  to  the  city  of  New  Orleans  a  large 
portion  of  the  very  land  entered  by  General  Lafayette. 
When  informed  of  the  fact,  and  that  his  title  was  unques- 
tionable, and  the  value  of  the  land  was  from  fifty  to  a 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  he  wrote  to  his  agent  that  he 
would  not  consent  to  inquire  into  the  validity  of  his  title  ; 
for  he  could  not  think  of  entering  into  a  litigation  with 
any  public  body  in  the  United  States  ;  and  gave  positive 
instructions  to  his  agent  to  relinquish  his  entry,  and  make 
a  location  elsewhere.  He  did  so,  and  the  new  location 
proved  of  little  value  ;  but  the  land  relinquished  is  an 
important  part  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  and  worth 
millions. 

I  have  said  that  General  Lafayette  was  not  only  need- 
ful, but  essential,  to  the  success  of  our  revolution.  And 
now,  in  addition  to  all  other  considerations,  I  will  state 
an  important  reason  in  confirmation  of  this.  It  is  a  well 
known  fact,  that  it  is  difficult  to  make  armies  of  different 
nations,  even  when  engaged  in  the  same  cause,  to  act 
harmoniously  together.  This  was  often  painfully  wit- 
nessed in  our  revolution ;  and  no  one  but  General  Lafay- 


u 

ette  could  successfully  negotiate  between  them  and  induce 
them  to  act  efficiently  together.  This,  at  times,  was  an 
arduous  task,  and  taxed  his  utmost  powers.  His  great 
exertions  were  never  more  conspicuous  and  essential  than 
in  the  case  of  Count  D'Estang  at  Newport,  and  Count 
De  Grasse  at  Yorktown. 

General  Lafayette  was  a  man  of  great  firmness  and 
personal  courage.  He  stood  for  the  right  against  all  odds, 
and  never  deserted  a  friend.  This  was  fully  exemplified 
in  his  joining  the  American  revolution  at  the  time  he  did  ; 
and  when  other  hearts  quailed  he  stood  firm.  His  per- 
sonal firmness  was  conspicuous,  when  he  rode  up  to  quiet 
and  disperse  a  mob  in  the  French  revolution.  The  first 
salutation  he  'got,  was  a  musket  shot.  He  felt  the  ball 
whistle  by  his  ear;  he  changed  not  his  position,  but 
stretched  himself  up  in  the  saddle,  looked  sternly  at  the 
quarter  from  whence  the  shot  came,  and  firmly  said  : 
' '  Bring  forth  the  assassin  !"  Straightway  the  mob  fell 
upon  the  assassin  and  cut  him  to  pieces  ;  then  shouted 
loud  and  repeated  cheers  for  Lafayette,  and  at  once  dis- 
persed. 

Another  instance  of  firmness  and  courage,  that  surpasses 
all  ordinary  comprehension,  occurred  at  the  prison  of 
Olmutz.  When  the  Austrian  ministers  found  they  must 
relinquish  their  prey,  although  unknown  to  Lafayette  at 
the  time,  they  attempted  to  compel  him  to  receive  his 
freedom  on  prescribed  conditions  ;  but  he  distinctly  and 
firmly  said,  "  he  would  perish  within  the  prison  walls,  or 
leave  them  a  free  man." 

He  seems  to  have  had  a  charmed  life,  for  he  passed 
through  perils  of  shipwreck  and  mutiny  on  the  ocean,  the 
perils  of  a  snagged  boat  on  the  great  Western  river  ;  and 
faced  many  a  hard  fought  battle  in  Europe  and  America, 
and  escaped  all  these  perils  with  merely  a  slight  flesh 
wound  on  his  person.  He  was  more  "the  man  of  destiny" 


95 

than  Napoleon  himself,  and,  like  Marshal  Ney,  was  "the 
bravest  of  the  brave." 

A  sketch  of  Gen.  Lafayette  would  be  incomplete  with- 
out a  glance  at  the  beautiful  Lagrange  and  its  occupants. 
The  castle  lies  in  the  fertile  district  of  La  Brie,  forty  miles 
East  of  Paris,  remote  from  any  thoroughfare,  and  sur- 
rounded by  forests.  A  more  sequestered  spot,  distant 
from  the  bustling  world,  can  hardly  be  imagined.  Here 
are  prolific  orchards,  cultivated  fields,  pleasant  walks  and 
antiquated  woods.  The  castle  is  quadrangular  in  shape, 
with  a  round  pointed  tower  at  each  angle.  The  building 
is  ancient,  and  simply  furnished.  The  wood  is  divided 
into  beautiful  lanes,  intersecting  with  each  other,  and  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  solitary  walks,  or  reading,  in  the  dense 
shade. 

The  estate  is  divided  into  grass  lands  and  cultivated 
fields,  and  dotted  here  and  there  writh  cottage  buildings, 
but  no  fences.  Here  may  be  seen,  in  their  season, 
orchards  of  fruit,  fields  of  grain  and  meadows  of  grass. 

Here,  the  General  lived  in  rural  simplicity  and  unosten- 
tatious hospitality ;  and  few  indeed  are  the  Americans  who 
did  not  pay  their  respects  to  the  benefactor  of  their  coun- 
try. Xo  idle  ceremony  awaited  them  ;  but,  simply,  a 
hearty  welcome.  His  breakfast  hour  was  eleven,  but  the 
children  were  served  with  a  morning  lunch,  and  dinner  at 
five — -two  meals  a  day.  After  breakfast  came  the  morn- 
ing walk,  starting  all  together,  but  soon  separating  into 
different  parties,  as  inclination  dictated.  Sometimes  the 
General,  with  his  grandson,  inspected  his  farm,  his  sheep- 
folds  and  cattle-stalls  ;  looked  over  the  peasantry  at  work, 
and  had  a  cheerful  word  for  all.  Once  a  week,  the  peas- 
antry assembled  in  an  ample  room  in  the  castle  in  winter ; 
and.  in  summer,  on  the  lawn,  and  danced  to  the  merry 
sound  of  the  violin.  In  this,  the  younger  portion  of  the 
family  joined.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  an  ample 


96 

lunch  was  served  to  them  all.  The  simplicity  in  dress  of 
the  whole  family  was  remarkable.  No  finery  was  seen  on 
any  of  them,  and  few  ornaments.  The  General,  himself, 
in  youthful  days,  when  ruffled  shirts  and  ruffled  wristers 
were  fashionable,  would  have  none  of  them.  Should  it 
be  asked,  how  he  could  have  enjoyed  the  gorgeous  dis- 
plays in  this  country,  so  lavishly  exhibited,  the  answer  is 
plain.  He  did  like  splendid  scenes  and  rich  ornaments, 
but  not  on  his  person.  When  a  little  school  girl,  in  Bos- 
ton, slipped  a  crown  of  laurels,  interwoven  with  flowers, 
on  his  head,  it  came  off  quicker  than  it  was  put  on,  and 
placed  on  the  seat  beside  him.  When  a  like  attempt  was 
made  at  Yorktown,  his  quick  hand  caught  the  wreath  and 
handed  it  to  another.  What  man  of  observation  was 
there  here,  who  did  not  observe  that  the  General,  his 
son,  and  secretary,  passed  all  over  the  country  in  the 
simplest  garb  imaginable,  without  any  display  of  orna- 
ments on  dress.  A  writer,  who  visited  Lagrange  when 
the  family  were  all  alive  and  together,  says  :  ' '  Simple  in 
dress  as  in  the  manner  of  living ;  it  would  be  in  vain  to 
seek  for  splendid  dresses,  jewels,  or  any  of  the  trappings 
of  worldly  vanity  at  Lagrange.  The  jewels  of  the  La- 
fayette family  are  those  of  the  mother  of  the  Gracchi." 
Cannot  pious  American  ladies  take  note  of  this  ? 

Gen.  Lafayette's  private  apartments  consisted  of  two 
rooms,  on  the  second  floor.  His  bed  room  was  a  fair 
sized  room,  with  a  fire-place,  and  windows  looking  out  on 
the  lawn  and  woods  in  the  rear  of  the  castle.  From  this 
room,  a  door  opened  into  his  library,  which  was  large, 
and  in  the  turret,  and  nearly  round.  It  is  adorned  with 
the  busts  of  Washington,  Franklin,  and  other  distin- 
guished Americans.  By  a  window,  is  his  desk,  where  he, 
with  a  spy-glass,  could  see  on  his  left  his  whole  farm  and 
his  stables  ;  on  his  right,  the  park  and  an  elegant  lawn, 
covered  with  luxuriant  grass  ;  and  also  see  his  peasants  at 


work,  and  enjoy  the  extensive  scene  before  him.  Here  he 
kept  his  farm  books,  in  which  are  registered  a  record  of 
his  crops  and  improvements,  in  his  own  hand. 

Gen.  Lafayette  had  a  room  in  his  castle,  set  apart  as  a 
kind  of  museum,  which  he  called  "America,"  in  which 
were  deposited  his  American  gifts,  curiosities,  newspapers, 
pamphlets,  &c.,  among  which  was  seen,  in  a  conspicuous 
place,  Dr.  Franklin's  original  printing  press. 

In  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  character  of  Gen, 
Lafayette,  I  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  a 
most  noble  and  perfect  man ;  and  I  could  say,  like  Pilate 
of  old,  "I  find  no  fault  in  him;"  when  I  was  taken  all 
aback  at  my  stupidity.  Two  writers,  of  some  note,  have 
discovered  a  most  grievous  fault,  and  it  would  seem  he 
has  most  grievously  answered  it  in  another  world  !  One 
says,  "he  finds  no  evidences  of  a  Christian  faith  on  his 
dying  bed ;  without  which,  all  other  virtues  are  dim  and 
powerless  in  such  an  hour."  And  the  other  says,  "If,  to 
the  noble  qualities  he  possessed,  had  been  added  the  pure 
faith  and  sublime  hopes  of  the  gospel,  nothing  would  have 
been  wanting  to  complete  the  portraiture  of  a  perfect 
man."  "Evidences  and  hopes  !"  and  to  whom  given,  to 
God  or  to  man  ?  Who  presumes  to  be  the  vicegerent  of 
the  Almighty,  and  poke  his  nose  into  a  death-bed  scene, 
and  pronounce  judgment  on  a  dying  man  ? 

When  or  where  did  Lafayette  act  or  speak  a  word 
against  the  Christian  religion?  On  the  contrary,  it  is  well 
known  that  he  was  no  bigot,  but  for  the  largest  religious 
liberty.  Although  educated  as  a  Catholic,  when  the 
Protestants  in  the  South  of  France  complained  of  in- 
fringements on  their  religious  rights,  he  hastened  to  that 
region,  carefully  investigated  all  their  complaints,  and  had 
them  redressed.  Contrary  to  all  rules  of  law  or  justice, 
these  bigots  call  no  evidence,  the  strongest  evidence,  and 
condemn  accordingly. 
13 


98 

And  has  it  come  to  this,  that  when  a  remorseless  mur- 
derer appears  on  the  scaffold  with  his  priest,  and  exhibits 
some  sniveling  signs  of  repentance,  proclaims  his  peace 
made  with  God  and  sins  forgiven,  is  endorsed  as  a  saint  and 
sent  joyfully  to  Heaven  ;  and  a  man  who  has  spent  a  long 
life  in  doing  all  the  good  he  could,  but  is  not  sagacious 
enough  to  have  a  priest,  or  pious  deacon,  at  his  dying  bed  ; 
and,  in  his  presence  and  hearing,  manifest  his  Christian 
faith  and  hope,  is  denounced  an  infidel  and  sent  to  perdi- 
tion ! 

I  had  supposed  that  religion  was  a  private  matter  be- 
tween man  and  his  Maker,  and  not  between  man  and 
man ;  and  all  outside  human  interference,  arrogant  im- 
pertinence. Where  do  these  religionists  get  the  doc- 
trine that  dying  confessions  take  precedence  of  a  long 
life  of  "good  works?"  The  Bible  says,  "by  their 
fruits  ye  shall  know  them  ! "  And  by  this  doctrine  I 
stand,  and  doubt  not  in  the  company  of  all  real  Christians 
throughout  the  world.  It  is  time  that  these  criticisms  on 
death-bed  scenes  should  be  treated  with  the  contempt  they 
deserve. 

To  cast  a  shade  over  the  brightest  characters  cannot, 
surely,  be  a  desirable  employment  for  an  honest,  liberal 
mind ;  yet  some  men,  of  narrow  minds  and  strong  pre- 
judices, undertake  this  insidious  task,  pursue  it  with  a 
zeal  that  never  tires,  and  authoritatively  condemn  without 
a  particle  of  evidence  whatever. 

George  Washington  Lafayette,  the  General's  only  son, 
was  so  completely  eclipsed  by  his  father,  that  little  is  said 
or  known  of  him.  In  most  of  the  published  accounts  of 
the  General's  visits,  his  name  is  seldom  mentioned  at  all ; 
and  yet,  he  was  much  of  a  gentleman,  of  good  personal 
appearance,  and  well  educated.  Although  he  seemed 
reconciled  to  his  position,  yet  it  must  have  been  rather 
unpleasant  to  him  to  pass  through  the  country  under  such 


99 

a  dense  shadow  as  hardly  to  be  seen  or  recognized,  amid 
the  splendid  scenes  that  surrounded  him.  He  could  not 
join  in  the  shouts  of  welcome  to  his  own  father,  and  must 
have  been  often  a  mere  silent  looker-on.  It  must  have 
been  some  relief,  however,  to  see  his  father  so  highly 
honored,  to  whom  he  seemed  to  be  much  devoted.  He 
had  great  fears  that  his  father's  strength  was  overtaxed, 
his  constitution  would  be  impaired,  and,  after  the  excite- 
ment was  over,  would  linger  and  die. 

When  I  took  my  seat  in  the  stage  coach  at  Pembroke, 
I  sat  by  his  side  ;  and  as  neither  of  us  cared  to  pay  much 
attention  to  the  passing  events,  we  had,  during  two  or 
three  hours,  an  interesting  conversation.  He  spoke  the 
English  language  very  well ;  I  thought,  more  fluently  than 
his  father  ;  and  when  I  marvelled  at  this ,  he  said  he  learned 
it  in  his  early  youth.  That  when  his  mother  and  two 
sisters  went  to  seek  his  father  at  Olmutz,  he  was  sent  to 
Mount  Vernon,  staid  there  more  than  two  years,  studied 
the  English  language,  and  spoke  it  daily  in  common  con- 
versation. He  formed  a  strong  attachment  for  General 
Washington  and  his  wife,  and  did  not  wonder  that  his 
father  so  highly  esteemed  them.  Although  he  was  kindly 
treated,  and  generally  enjoyed  himself  very  well,  yet  he 
had  some  very  sad  hours.  He  understood  that  his  mother 
and  sisters  were  in  the  prison  at  Olmutz  with  his  father ; 
but  during  all  the  time  he  was  at  Mount  Vernon,  he  could 
not  learn  anything  more,  notwithstanding  the  great  exer- 
tions of  General  Washington.  He  could  not  know  whether 
they  were  alive  or  dead,  sick  or  well ;  and  the  suspense, 
at  times,  was  very  severe.  He  did  not  let  the  General 
and  Mrs.  Washington  know  how  sad  he  was,  because  it 
would  have  distressed  them  on  his  account,  without  the 
power  of  relieving.  At  length,  the  joyful  tidings  came, 
that  his  father,  mother  and  sisters  were  all  alive  and  out 
of  prison,  and  he  was  sent  for  to  join  them  at  Welmbold 


100 

in  Denmark.  He  leaped  for  joy,  ran  out  into  the  fields 
to  shake  off  his  exuberant  feelings,  that  were  too  oppres- 
sive to  hold.  With  all  expedition,  he  embarked,  and  met 
them  at  last.  The  meeting  was  very  affecting,  mingled 
with  joys  and  sorrows.  They  found  him  increased  in  size 
and  a  healthy  boy ;  but  he  found  them  mere  skeletons  of 
what  they  were ;  and  they  appeared  prematurely  old. 
They  attempted  to  tell  him  of  the  horrors  of  Olmutz,  but 
could  not.  In  time,  they  improved  in  health,  were  re- 
stored to  Lagrange,  and  were  quite  happy. 

The  year  before,  he  had  gone  with  his  father  to  visit 
Mount  Vernon,  and  looked  over  the  buildings  and  grounds. 
They  were  not  in  such  complete  order  as  in  the  days  of 
Washington.  They  entered  the  tomb  of  Washington, 
paid  their  devoirs  at  his  shrine,  and  wept  full  sore  as  they 
left.  His  stay  was  short ;  shorter  than  it  would  have  been 
had  he  been  alone ;  for  his  father  was  exceeding  sorrow- 
ful, often  in  tears,  and  he  urged  an  early  departure. 

Our  conversation  then  turned  upon  the  incidents  of 
their  tour  through  the  country ;  and  I  perceived  at  once 
that  he  had  been  an  attentive  observer.  He  said,  Amer- 
ica was  a  rough  looking  country  compared  to  France,  but 
very  interesting  in  scenery.  Nature  had  done  her  work 
here  on  a  large  scale,  and  the  mountains  and  rivers  were 
wonders.  It  was  something  marvellous  that  they  had 
travelled  so  many  thousand  miles,  over  hills  and  rough 
roads  in  stage  coaches,  and  in  steamers  on  the  mighty 
rivers,  and  had  not  been  in  peril  of  life  or  limb  but  once  ; 
and  that  was  in  a  steamer  on  the  Mississippi  river,  when 
the  boat  was  snagged.  The  snag  was  a  big  tree  and 
pierced  the  boat  entirely  through,  and  came  out  above  the 
upper  deck,  so  that  the  boat  sank  in  a  few  minutes.  But 
another  steamboat  was  at  hand,  and  they  were  rescued, 
with  the  loss  of  his  father's  hat,  a  trunk  containing  a  part 
of  his  correspondence,  and  the  beautiful  carriage  presented 


101 

to  him  at  Baltimore.  A  hatter  at  Louisburg  supplied  him 
with  a  new  hat,  but  his  correspondence  and  carriage  could 
not  be  restored. 

We  also  discussed  the  political  affairs  of  his  country 
and  mine  ;  and  the  English  and  French  languages.  I 
said,  that  the  French  language  was  so  full  of  silent  letters, 
and  words  of  different  signification  were  pronouriced  so 
much  alike,  that  it  was  difficult  for  a  foreigner  to  speak  or 
understand  it.  He  said,  that  might  be  so,  but  the  Eng- 
lish language  was  under  the  same  condemnation  ;  much 
more,  probably,  than  I  was  aware  of.  Now,  d^a  spells 
day ;  but  you  must  needs  add  a  useless  y  ;  and  this  applies 
to  a  large  class  of  words.  And  why  does  ditch  need  a  t 
more  than  rich?  And  how  can  a  foreigner  distinguish 
the  difference  in  pronunciation  between  ship  and  sheep? 
I  gave  in. 

He  was  of  medium  size,  darker  complexion  than  his 
father,  and  about  forty  years  old  when  here.  He  served 
in  the  army  of  Napoleon  from  1800  to  the  peace  of  Tilsit ; 
was  a  brave  and  efficient  warrior,  and  twice  saved  the  life 
of  his  commander,  General  Grouchy  ;  was  his  aid  through 
all  the  hard-fought  battles,  and  was  recommended  by  him 
for  promotion.  But  Napoleon  would  not  promote  a  La- 
fayette, and  struck  his  name  from  the  list.  In  1803,  he 
married  the  daughter  of  Senator  Tracy,  a  very  accom- 
plished lady.  They  had  five  children,  and  the  eldest 
daughter  was  a  great  favorite  of  General  Lafayette. 

Anastasia,  the  eldest  surviving  daughter  of  the  General, 
married  Charles  de  Latour  Maubourg ;  Virginia  married 
M.  de  Lasterie,  who  bravely  fought  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  George  Washington  Lafayette,  in  many  battles  ; 
but  being  connected  with  the  Lafayette  family,  obtained 
no  promotion.  General  Lafayette's  youngest  child  was  a 
daughter,  named  Carolina,  after  a  State — or,  rather,  two 
States — of  the  Union.  She  was  the  only  child  born  after 
the  return  of  Lafayette  to  Lagrange. 


102 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  suggest  the  propriety  of 
erecting  a  monument  at  the  State  capital,  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  noble  deeds  of  General  Lafayette.  Monuments 
have  been  built,  and  great  honors  bestowed  on  successful 
generals,  many  of  whom  fought  to  enslave  and  oppress 
mankind,  and  were  a  curse  to  the  age  in  which  they  lived. 
But  a  greater  Patriot,  Statesman  and  Warrior  is  here, 
whose  voice,  pen,  sword  and  fortune  were  vigorously  and 
liberally  employed  in  vindication  of  the  rights  of  man, 
and  the  freedom  of  his  race.  A  large  debt  of  gratitude 
we  owe  him,  for  the  manifold  blessings  we  now  enjoy. 

Should  it  be  said,  that,  as  he  fought  for  the  whole 
country,  and  was  the  Nation's  Guest,  a  monument  at  the 
Capital  in  Washington  City  would  be  more  appropriate, 
the  answer  must  be,  that  he  was  the  Guest  of  New  Hamp- 
shire also,  one  of  the  original  States  for  which  he  fought. 
And,  moreover,  the  case  seems  to  be  resolved  into  this  : 
a  New  Hampshire  monument,  or  none  at  all.  If  any  one 
doubts  this,  let  him  look  at  the  long  unfinished  monument 
of  Washington,  at  the  Capital  of  the  nation. 

And  will  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  ever  enter  into 
such  an  enterprise  as  this  ?  Let  it  never  be  asked ;  but 
let  the  people  en  masse  erect  it.  After  plans  have  been 
made,  and  the  cost  ascertained,  let  subscription  books  be 
sent  to  every  town  in  the  State,  subscriptions  limited  to 
one  dollar  each  ;  and  when  the  needful  amount  is  obtained, 
let  an  agent  of  each  town  meet  at  Concord,  and  appoint 
all  needful  committees  for  the  building  of  the  monument. 
Let  the  subscription  books  be  deposited  in  the  archives  of 
the  State,  so  that  the  autographs  of  the  donors  will  live 
in  all  time  to  come  ;  and  they  will  feel  that  they  have 
contributed  their  mite  to  a  most  noble  object,  and  immor- 
talized their  names.  And  so  great  will  be  the  desire  to 
see  the  autographs  of  the  donors,  that  a  fac-simile  will  be 
lithographed,  published  in  a  book,  and  handed  down  as 
an  heir-loom  to  the  latest  posterity. 


103 

And  now,  permit  me  to  make  some  suggestions  in  regard 
to  its  size  and  location.  The  high  ground  directly  in  the 
rear  of  the  State  House  would  seem  to  be  the  most  fitting 
place  for  its  location.  If  buildings  are  in  the  way,  let 
them  be  purchased,  and  removed.  Let  there  be  ample 
space  to  fit  up  a  beautiful  lot,  with  a  fountain,  seats  and 
shade  trees.  As  to  its  shape  and  size,  let  it  be  an  obelisk, 
similar  to  that  on  Bunker  Hill ;  only  let  it  be  made  of 
rubble,  or  rough  hewed  granite,  laid  in  cement ;  and  let 
it  be  of  sufficient  height  to  over-top  all  spires  and  build- 
ings—  sharp  set  against  the  sky,  with  no  other  back- 
ground but  the  blue  heavens.  And  then,  let  it  be  crowned 
with  a  statue  of  Gen.  Lafayette,  of  colossal  or  heroic  size, 
facing  the  East  and  the  State  House. 

A  small,  polished  shaft  is  suitable  for  an  individual 
grave,  or  family  tomb  ;  but  not  appropriate  for  a  public 
monument.  That,  like  a  rugged  mountain  in  the  land- 
scape, should  only  be  seen  in  the  distance.  Nature  has 
smooth  buttercups  and  flowers,  but  majestic  trees  are  rug- 
ged and  rough. 

And  when  the  congregated  wisdom  of  the  State  assem- 
ble at  the  capitol,  and  ambitious  political  partisans  so  far 
forget  themselves  as  to  "  give  up  to  party  what  was  meant 
for  manhood."  enter  into  a  personal  debate,  and  bandy 
words  that  are  neither  decent  nor  true,  let  them  take  a 
recess,  repair  to  "Monument  Square,"  and  cool  off.  Let 
them  sit  in  the  dense  shade,  drink  of  the  cool  fountain, 
read  the  inscriptions  on  the  monument,  and  look  aloft  on 
the  benign  face  of  the  image  it  bears  ;  and  hardened  sin- 
ners indeed  they  must  be  who  do  not  return  to  the  State 
House  wiser  Legislators  and  better  men.  But,  if  any 
narrow  minded  partisan  should  be  impervious  to  all  influ- 
ences like  these,  he  must  be  too  insignificant  to  be  seen 
with  the  naked  eye,  and  become  the  shadowy  shadow  of  a 
shade  ! 


104 

And  now,  as  \ve  are  on  the  subject  of  Legislators,  let 
us  express  the  wish,  or  hope,  that  they  may  in  the  future, 
as  in  former  days,  be  "diligent  in  business,"  and  econom- 
ical in  expenditures  ;  and  never  indulge  in  "talking  against 
time,"  or  charging  the  State  for  seven  days'  labor  in  a 
week,  for  only  three  days'  work  actually  performed. 

The  statue  of  Lafayette  will  stand  as  the  sentinel  on  a 
watch-tower,  the  guardian-angel  of  the  city  of  Concord ; 
and  its  benign  influence  will  be  felt.  Its  citizens  will 
honor  the  name  they  bear,  and  concord  and  not  discord 
will  be  known,  seen  and  felt  throughout  all  its  borders, 
and  the  State  will  justly  be  proud  of  its  capital. 

Concord  has  now  many  prominent  features  that  are  an 
honor  to  the  city  and  State.  Its  reformatory  and  sanitary 
institutions,  state  house,  halls,  churches,  stores  and  hotels 
are  of  the  first  order ;  and  yet  the  Lafayette  monument, 
when  built,  will  be  the  most  attractive  feature  of  the  city  ; 
save  only  the  asylum  for  the  insane.  That  stands  on  such 
a  delightful  eminence,  commanding  such  a  splendid  view 
of  the  city  and  surrounding  country,  that  it  is  a  most  at- 
tractive retreat  for  the  sane  as  well  as  the  insane.  And 
then,  there  are  such  a  series  of  unpretending,  yet  well  ar- 
ranged buildings,  for  the  comfort,  health  and  enjoyment 
of  the  inmates ;  so  neatly  kept  throughout  all  their  bor- 
ders ;  and  withal,  so  quiet  and  still,  that  one  can  hardly 
believe  he  is  visiting  an  institution  inhabited  by  hundreds 
of  human  beings,  really  insane.  And  he  leaves  it  at  last 
with  the  firm  conviction  that  the  superintendent,  his  aids 
and  assistants,  are  marvellous  persons  indeed,  who  can 
keep  so  quiet,  tidy  and  neat  so  many  human  beings, 
whose  minds  have  so  little  control  of  their  bodies,  and  the 
premises  they  occupy  in  such  perfect  order.  Other  insti- 
tutions of  the  kind  I  have  visited,  of  larger  size,  more 
costly,  and  of  greater  pretensions  ;  but  in  all  essential 
features,  the  New  Hampshire  Asylum  for  the  Insane 
equals,  if  it  does  not  exceed  them  all. 


105 

And  the  Lafayette  monument  will  not  only  be  known 
and  honored  in  the  State  ;  but  throughout  the  whole  coun- 
try— from  the  great  lakes  to  the  greater  gulf,  and  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  oceans.  Concord  will  become 
the  Mecca  of  the  nation,  and  pilgrims  from  afar  will  pay 
their  devoirs  at  its  shrine ;  and,  if  latter-day  prophets  do 
not  block  the  wheels  of  time,  for  many  long  ages  yet  to 
come. 

Youths  of  America !  I  linger,  for  I  desire  to  proffer  a 
few  parting  words.  In  pondering  over  this  sketch,  I 
doubt  not,  you  have  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  Wash- 
ington and  Lafayette  were  needful  to  each  other,  and  both 
essential  to  the  success  of  the  American  revolution.  Had 
either  been  wanting,  it  would  have  been  a  failure.  Un- 
like in  temperament,  yet  all  the  more  useful  aids  to  each 
other,  and  should  be  held  in  equaj  estimation,  and  alike 
honored  by  the  American  people. 

In  stern  integrity,  patriotism  and  noble  daringr  Gen. 
Lafayette  had  no  superiors,  and  few  equals,  in  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution.  He  had,  indeed,  in  an  eminent  degree, 
the  essential  characteristics  of  a  successful  warrior — quick 
to  perceive,  sagacious  to  plan,  and  prompt  to  execute: 
While  others  shrunk  from  danger,  and  avoided  all  perilous 
positions,  he  bravely  threw  himself  into  the  "deadly 
breach"  and  buffeted  the  storm  of  two  revolutions,  and 
became  the  bright,  burnished  link  between  two  centuries, 
and  the  gallant  HERO  of  two  hemispheres.  Let  us,  then, 
honor  his  name,  imitate  his  virtues,  and  all  join  heart  and 
hand  to  make  this  nation,  what  he  prophesied  it  might  be, 
one  of  the  greatest  nations  of  the  earth.  Let  us  then, 
with  one  voice  and  one  mind,  in  trumpet  tones  proclaim, 
shout,  sing — 

••  Columbia,  Columbia,  to  glory  arise, 

The  Queen  of  the  world,  and  child  of  the  skies." 


14 


106 

I  had  concluded  to  stop  here,  and  close  my  sketch  of 
Gen.  Lafayette  ;  but,  on  reflection,  I  have  thought  that  it 
might  be  deemed  incomplete  without  some  more  particu- 
lar notice  of  his  many  splendid  receptions  outside  of  New 
England.  I  have  room  only  for  a  few  of  them  ;  the  whole 
would  fill  volumes.  I  begin  with  his 

RECEPTION  AT  THE  CITY  OF  HUDSON, 

ON    NORTH    RIVER,    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK. 

On  landing  at  the  wharf  the  crowd  was  so  great  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  proceed  in  any  direction,  but  by 
the  great  and  active  exertions  of  the  marshal  of  the  day, 
aided  by  military  companies,  Gen.  Lafayette  was  con- 
ducted to  an  elegant  barouche,  drawn  by  four  black 
horses,  attended  by  four  grooms  in  livery,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded up  Warren  street,  at  the  head  of  which  an  arch 
had  been  erected,  which,  in  size  and  elegance,  exceeded 
anything  that  had  been  seen  on  the  route.  Half  way  up 
the  street  was  another  arch,  more  elegant  than  the  first, 
and  at  the  end  was  a  third,  superior  to  both  !  A'll  along 
the  street,  more  than  a  mile  in  length,  a  dense  crowd 
'cheered  the  General  as  he  passed,  and  the  ladies,  in  win- 
dows and  on  balconies,  waved  their  handkerchiefs  in  the 
air,  while  Lafayette  bowed,  or  attempted  to  bow,  to  the 
various  individuals  of  that  vast  multitude. 

The  third  arch  claims  a  moment's  notice.  On  its  top, 
stood  a  colossal  figure  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  well 
proportioned  and  beautifully  painted  ;  holding  in  her  hand 
the  American  standard,  with  a  large  flag  that  gracefully 
floated  in  the  air.  To  all  of  the  arches  were  suspended 
various  and  appropriate  mottoes  and  inscriptions. 

On  arriving  at  the  Court  House,  the  troops  opened  to 
the  right  and  left,  and  all  that  could,  passed  into  the  court- 
room. This  room  was  most  splendidly  decorated  through- 
out, displaying  great  labor,  and  uncommon  taste  and  skill. 


107 

On  each  side  of  the  entrance  to  the  bar  stood  a  beautiful 
corinthian  pillar,  with  caps  and  cornices  of  the  composite 
oi'der,  elegantly  wrought  and  ornamented  with  leaves  of 
gold.  On  the  top  of  each  of  the  pillars  was  placed  a 
globe,  and  these  were  united  by  a  chain  of  flowers  of  every 
hue,  festooned  with  vases  and  laurels.  At  this  enchant- 
ing portal,  the  Mayor  gave  the  welcoming  address,  to 
which  the  General,  with  much  emotion,  replied.  He  was 
then  introduced  to  the  officers  of  the  city,  and  ladies  and 
gentlemen.  But  the  most  affecting  scene  was  his  intro- 
duction to  sixty-eight  veterans  of  the  revolution.  It  so 
happened  that  some  of  them  were  officers,  and  many  of 
them  soldiers,  who  had  served  under  Lafayette  in  the  rev- 
olutionary army.  Each  had  something  to  say  ;  and,  when 
they  grasped  his  hand,  were  reluctant  to  release  it.  What 
each  individual  said  cannot  be  recollected  ;  but  one  said, 
You,  General,  gave  me  the  first  guinea  I  ever  had  in  my 
life.  Another  presented  the  sword  given  him  by  the  Gen- 
eral in  Rhode  Island.  But  the  feelings  of  the  General 
and  his  comrades  were  too  great  for  speech,  and  could 
only  be  relieved  by  sobs  and  tears. 

As  he  passed  down  to  the  boat,  he  called  at  the  hotel, 
where  a  sumptuous  feast  had  been  provided  ;  but  he  could 
not  stop  to  partake  of  it,  as  his  dinner  awaited  him  at 
Albany,  and  he  was  then  some  hours  behind  time.  He, 
however,  took  a  glass  of  wine  and  some  refreshment,  and 
passed  on  to  the  boat.  When  aboard,  and  the  boat 
dashed  out  into  the  stream,  cheers  upon  cheers  were  given 
by  the  vast  multitude  on  shore,  which  were  answered  from 
the  boat,  while  the  cannons  uttered  their  deep-toned  voices 
from  the  hills.  And  thus,  the  boat  was  cheered  from 
shore  to  shore  on  its  route  to  Albany. 

In  some  places  the  display  was  surprising — sometimes 
comical.  On  nearing  the  landing  of  a  small  village  a  sol- 
itary howitzer  gave  a  national  salute  ;  and  when  the  party 


108 

were  wondering  what  next,  as  no  people  were  visible,  a 
large  cannon,  concealed  in  the  woods,  answered  it,  while 
a  multitude  dashed  down  to  the  shore  with  loud  shouts  of 
welcome.  And  then  a  veteran  soldier,  whose  enthusiasm 
could  not  be  repressed,  dashed  down  to  the  water's  edge, 
fired  his  heavy  loaded  musket,  swung  his  hat  and  shouted, 
"I  give  you,  General,  the  best  I've  got."  He  was  greeted 
from  the  boat  with  loud  shouts  of  applause. 

General  Lafayette's  trip  extended  to  Troy ;  and  he 
there  visited  Mrs.  Willard's  celebrated  Ladies'  Seminary. 
On  arriving  at  the  gate  of  the  Institution  he  found  an  ar- 
bor of  evergreens,  extending  to  the  building,  a  distance  of 
200  feet ;  and,  on  entering  the  house,  he  was  presented 
to  Mrs.  Willard ;  and  she  then  presented  to  him  her  pu- 
pils. On  this  occasion,  two  young  ladies  presented  him 
the  following  poetic  Address,  composed  by  the  principal ; 
which  was  sung  with  great  sweetness  and  pathos  by  Miss 
Eliza  Smith,  of  Worcester,  Mass.  In  the  choruses,  the 
pupils  joined ;  and  the  whole  was  executed  with  great 
effect.  The  General  was  much  moved  ;  and  at  the  close 
of  the  singing  said :  "I  cannot  express  what  I  feel  on 
this  occasion ;  but  will  you,  Madam,  present  me  with 
three  copies  of  these  lines,  to  be  given,  as  from  you,  to 
my  three  daughters  ?"  The  request,  of  course,  was  readily 
complied  with. 

LAFAYETTE'S   WELCOME. 

And  art  thou  then,  dear  Hero,  come? 

And  do  our  eyes  behold  the  man 
Who  nerved  his  arm  and  bared  his  breast 

For  us.  ere  yet  our  life  began  ? 
For  us.  and  for  our  native  land. 

Thy  youthful  va'or  dared  the  war; 
And  now,  in  winter  of  thine  age. 

Have  come,  and  left  thy  loved  ones  far. 

Then,  dear  and  deep  thy  welcome  be. 
Nor  think  thy  daughters  far  from  thee ; 
Columbia's  daughters,  lo  !  we  bend, 
And  claim  to  call  thee  Father.  Friend. 


109 

Nor  yet,  our  country's  rights  alone 

Impelled  thee  on  in  Freedom's  cause ; 
No,  'twas  the  love  of  human  kind, 

Of  human  rights  and  equal  laws. 
It  was  benevolence  sublime. 

Like  that  which  moves  the  eternal  mind ; 
And,  benefactor  of  the  world, 

He  shed  his  blood  for  all  mankind. 

Then,  deep  and  dear  thy  welcome  be, 
Nor  think  thy  daughters  far  from  thee ! 
Daughters  of  human  kind,  we  bend, 
And  claim  to  call  thee  Father,  Friend. 

The  General  was  then  conducted  back  through  the 
arbor,  on  the  sides  of  which  the  pupils  had  arranged 
themselves  in  close  order,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred, 
and  threw  laurels  before  him  as  he  passed.  The  visit  of 
Gen.  Lafayette  at  Troy,  short  as  it  was,  gave  him  great 
satisfaction,  and  he  spoke  of  his  visit  at  the  seminary  as 
one  of  the  most  interesting  and  delightful  moments  of  his 
life. 


RECEPTION   AT  THE  LIVINGSTONS, 

ON    THE    HUDSON. 

When  the  steamer  arrived  at  the  landing,  it  was  discov- 
ered that  the  groves  were  literally  alive  with  people  of  all 
ages  and  sexes,  shouting  a  welcome  to  the  Nation's  Guest. 
The  rocks,  glens,  and  even  the  trees  to  their  topmost 
branches,  were  full  of  joyous  people,  who  joined  in  the 
general  shouts  of  joy.  The  General  was  escorted  to  the 
ancient  mansion  house  of  the  Livingstons,  then  occupied 
by  Robert  L.  Livingston  ;  and  after  a  short  time  of  intro- 
ductions, a  splendid  picnic  was  served  to  the  multitude. 

He  was  then  conducted  to  the  more  modern,  but  not 
less  elegant,  mansion  of  Edward  P.  Livingston.  Among 
the  most  attractive  displays  here,  was  a  sumptuous  sup- 
per, served  up  in  a  style  seldom  if  ever  equalled  in  this 


110 

country.  The  place  selected  for  this  fete,  was  an  extensive 
green-house,  or  orangery,  and  the  effect  was  very  impos- 
ing. The  tables  had  been  made  for  the  occasion,  and 
placed  beneath  a  grove  of  lemon  and  orange  trees,  full  of 
fruit,  and  brilliantly  lighted  by  hundreds  of  lamps  ;  while 
on  the  outside,  the  whole  atmosphere  was,  at  times,  splen- 
didly lighted  up  by  fireworks.  This  enchanting  scene  was 
ended  by  a  dance,  which  lasted  far  into  night ;  but  the 
General  early  retired  for  his  much  needed  rest. 


RECEPTION   AT  NEWARK,   N.  J. 

The  General's  reception  at  Newark  was  very  unique 
and  imposing.  As  the  procession  moved  to  the  green, 
surrounded  by  troops,  it  was  met  by  24  male  singers 
ranged  in  two  lines,  who  sung  with  great  pathos  the  fol- 
lowing lines  : — 

Hail  to  the  Gallant  Chief,  whose  fame 
Is  pure  as  Heaven's  etherial  flame ! 
Millions  of  grateful  people  cheer 
And  welcome  our  brave  soldier  here. 
O !  strew  the  blooms  of  wale  and  grove, 
Bright  as  onr  joys,  warm  as  our  love ; 
The  present  and  the  past  are  met 
To  welcome  noble  Lafayette. 

The  General,  followed  by  the  procession,  passed  through 
the  centre  of  the  green  until  he  came  near  a  magnificent 
bower,  where  he  was  received  by  24  female  singers, 
ranged  in  the  same  order  as  the  men  singers,  who  tuned 
their  voices  to  the  following  strain  : — 

We  weave  the  wreath,  we  pour  the  wine. 
Where  smiles  like  sparkling  sunbeams  shine; 
And  hail  the  thousands  fondly  met 
To  greet  thee,  matchless  Lafayette  ! 
Unseen,  around  the  flowery  way 
Shades  of  the  dead  in  glory  play; 
While  hearts  beat  high  and  eyes  are  wet; 
The  winds  of  heaven  hail  Lafayette ! 


Ill 

The  General  then  passed  on  between  the  lines  of  these 
ladies,  who  strewed  his  pathway  with  flowers  ;  and  entered 
a  splendid  rural  temple,  erected  for  his  reception.  The 
base  of  the  temple  was  40  feet  in  diameter,  in  front  of 
which  was  a  beautiful  portico,  composed  of  13  arches, 
representing  the  13  original  States,  over  which  was  a 
dome,  representing  the  Western  hemisphere.  The  pillars 
which  sustained  the  dome  were  15  feet  in  height,  and 
wreathed  with  evergreens  and  flowers.  On  both  sides, 
and  directly  back,  were  colonnades  of  twelve  arches, 
forming  arbors  for  the  ladies.  The  tower  was  lofty,  and 
supported  by  four  triumphal  arches ;  on  the  summit  stood 
a  large  golden  eagle,  with  a  crown  of  laurel  in  his  beak, 
and  an  olive  branch  on  the  liberty  cap  which  he  held  in 
his  talons.  In  front  of  the  portico,  was  the  name  of  La- 
fayette in  large  letters,  made  with  white  blossoms.  In 
the  centre  was  a  platform  on  which  were  two  large  chairs  ; 
and  over  the  one  occupied  by  the  General,  was  a  canopy 
in  the  form  of  a  cone,  wreathed  with  brilliant  flowers  of 
various  hues.  On  the  arches  forming  the  portico,  were 
the  following  inscriptions  :  on  the  West,  "  Now  I  am 
going  to  serve  you  ;"  on  the  South,  "  For  him  whom  the 
nation  delights  to  honor  ;"  on  the  North,  "  We  ne'er  shall 
look  on  his  like  again ;"  on  the  East,  "  His  laurels  shall 
never  fade." 

The  workmanship  of  this  temple  was  as  neat  as  the 
design  was  classical.  Everything  was  interwoven  with 
such  skill  and  compactness  as  to  form  cornices,  capitals, 
and  fretwork,  with  as  much  exactness  as  could  be  made  in 
sculptured  marble.  It  was,  indeed,  a  fairy  palace  as  seen 
at  a  distance,  and  resembled  the  beautiful  palace  in  the 
garden  of  Versailles  in  France,  which  it  was  designed  to 
imitate. 

The  foregoing  account  is  but  an  item  in  the  display  at 
Newark  ;  but  by  this,  judge  the  rest. 


112 

RECEPTION  AT  PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 

Early  in  the  morning,  the  General  left  Frankford  for 
Philadelphia,  distant  five  miles.  The  population  of  the 
city  poured  forth  to  meet  him,  in  carriages,  on  horseback 
and  on  foot,  and  filled  every  avenue  for  the  whole  dis- 
tance ;  while  the  windows,  balconies  and  platforms  were 
filled  with  ladies — all  joyous  and  shouting  welcomes.  But 
human  voices  could  not  give  full  utterance  to  the  feelings 
of  overflowing  hearts.  In  a  field  of  50  acres,  near  the 
city,  a  division  of  militia,  5500  strong,  composed  of  cav- 
alry, artillery  and  infantry,  were  drawn  up  in  a  hollow 
square  to  meet  him  ;  and  his  approach  was  announced 
by  100  rounds  of  artillery.  The  General  proceeded  in 
his  carriage  to  the  centre  ;  arose,  and  waved  his  hat  and 
bowed  to  the  troops  all  around  him  in  succession,  while 
salutes  and  shouts  of  welcome,  loud  and  long,  greeted 
him  on  all  sides.  He  made  the  review  on  foot,  but  re- 
ceived the  saluting  honors  in  his  carriage. 

The  line  of  march  was  then  taken  for  the  city,  and  the 
procession  was  more  than  three  miles  long.  A  full  de- 
scription of  this  procession,  and  the  numerous  decorations 
and  arches  on  the  route,  cannot  be  given  in  detail.  A 
mere  outline  must  suffice. 

1.  A  cavalcade  of  100  citizens. 

2.  One  hundred  mounted  field  and  staff  officers. 

3.  Five  hundred  cavalry  troops. 

4.  A  mounted  band  of  music. 

5.  A  company  of  150  cavalry. 

6.  A  brigade  of  2000  militia. 

7.  Committee  of  arrangements  on  horseback. 

8.  General  Lafayette  and  Judge  Petters,  in  a  splen- 
did barouche. 

9.  Four  other  barouches,  with  Go  vs.   Shultze  and 
Williamson  and  suites,  the   General's  family,  and  other 
distinguished  individuals. 


113 

10.  Three  cars    of  large   size,  splendidly  decorated, 
made  for  the  occasion,  containing  120  revolutionary  heroes. 
Each  carriage  had  the  name  of  Washington  in  front,  and 
Lafayette  in  the  rear;  and  on  one  side,   "Defenders  of 
the  country,"  and  on  the  other,  "The  survivors  of  1776." 

11.  Four  hundred  young  men  on  foot. 

12.  Various  trades,  led  by  a  car  of  printers  at  work, 
both  at  the  case  and  press,  and  printing  and  distributing 
patriotic  odes. 

13.  Typographical  Society,  with  banner,  /Lafayette. 

14.  Two  hundred  shoemakers,  with  banners,  badges 
and  emblems. 

15.  Three  hundred  weavers,  with  decorations. 

16.  One  hundred  and  fifty  rope-makers,  with  emblems. 

17.  One  hundred  and  fifty  lads  dressed  in  uniform. 

18.  One  hundred  ship-builders,  with  banners. 

19.  Seven  hundred  mechanics  of  various  occupations. 

20.  One  hundred  and  fifty  coopers,  fitting  staves  and 
driving  hoops. 

21.  One  hundred  and  fifty  butchers,  mounted,  and  in 
white  frocks. 

22.  Two  hundred  and  sixty  truckmen,  mounted,  with 
white  aprons  trimmed  with  blue. 

23.  One  hundred  and  fifty  rifle  men,  in  frocks. 

24.  A  full  company  of  artillery,  with  two  field-pieces. 

25.  A  brigade  of  1800  infantry. 

2(>.  A  company  of  New  Jersey  cavalry. 

27.  The  Red  Men  of  the  State. 

28.  The  Lafayette  Society. 

29.  "  The  True  Republican  Association." 

30.  "  The  German  American  Association." 

31.  A  body    of  300    sturdy    farmers    concluded    the 
procession. 

The  appearance  of  this   grand  procession  was  august 
and  imposing.      As  it  passed,    "LAFAYETTE,    LAFAY- 
15 


ETTE  ! "  sprang  from  the  voices  of  a  multitude  that  rolled 
on,  and  on,  and  on,  like  the  waves  of  the  ocean,  in  num- 
bers estimated  at  a  quarter  of  a  million.  Lafayette  beat 
in  every  heart ;  Lafayette  hung  on  every  tongue  ;  Lafay- 
ette glowed  on  every  cheek ;  Lafayette  glistened  in  every 
eye,  and  swelled  on  every  gale.  The  country  and  the 
whole  city  appeared  arrayed  in  all  their  glory,  beauty  and 
strength  ;  at  once,  to  witness  and  adore  the  majesty  of  the 
spectacle  and  to  honor  the  Nation's  Guest. 

The  procession,  after  passing  through  the  principal 
streets  of  Philadelphia,  halted  in  front  of  the  old  State 
House,  in  which  was  signed  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence in  1776.  Here,  the  General  alighted,  passed  un- 
der a  most  magnificent  triumphal  arch  into  the  hall,  which 
had  been  decorated  in  a  most  splendid  manner  for  this  oc- 
casion. Among  the  decorations  was  a  statue  of  Wash- 
ington, and  portraits  of  AVilliam  Penn,  Dr.  Franklin, 
Robert  Morris,  Francis  Hopkinson,  Generals  Greene, 
Wayne,  Montgomery,  Hamilton,  Gates,  Rochambeau ; 
and  also,  of  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton,  Jefferson, 
Hancock,  Adams,  Madison,  Munroe,  and  Thompson. 
Here  were  assembled  the  city  authorities,  the  society  of 
Cincinnati,  the  judges  of  the  courts,  &c.,  &c.  The 
mayor  of  the  city  then  gave  him  a  most  eloquent  address, 
to  which  the  General  gave  a  feeling  reply,  in  a  faltering 
voice,  for  he  was  manifestly  overcome  by  his  emotions. 

At  night,  the  whole  city  was  brilliantly  illuminated  ;  in 
which  the  United  States  Bank  building  presented  a  most 
enchanted  appearance.  The  lights  were  so  placed  as  not 
to  be  seen,  and  the  doors  being  thrown  open,  it  appeared 
like  a  palace  of  transparent  marble. 

Among  the  numerous  arches  was  one  of  gigantic  size 
and  splendid  appearance,  after  the  plan  of  one  of  the  fa- 
mous arches  of  Rome.  It  was  constructed  of  wood,  cov- 
ered with  canvas,  and  painted  in  perfect  imitation  of  stone. 


115 

Its  front  was  forty-five  feet,  embracing  a  basement  story 
of  doric  order,  from  which  an  arch  sprung  to  the  height 
of  twenty-four  feet.  The  spandrels  on  each  front  were 
decorated  with  the  figure  of  Fame  painted  in  elegant  style, 
with  arms  extended  and  holding  a  civic  crown  over  the 
key  stone.  The  wings  were  of  the  Ionic  order,  and  dec- 
orated with  statues  of  Liberty,  Victory,  Independence  and 
Plenty,  with  suitable  mottoes ;  the  whole  surmounted 
with  an  entablature  of  thirty  feet.  In  the  centre,  under 
the  arms  of  the  city,  and  on  each  side,  were  placed  the 
statues  of  Wisdom  and  Justice,  with  appropriate  em- 
blems. The  superficial  surface  of  painted  canvas  ex- 
ceeded 3000  feet. 

The  next  day,  a  grand  levee  was  held  in  the  State  House, 
where  thousands  took  him  by  the  hand  ;  and  he  received 
no  less  than  fourteen  addresses  :  one  each  from  the  Old 
Soldiers,  Philosophical  and  Bible  Societies,  the  Univer- 
sity, Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Bar,  the  Young  Men, 
the  French  Citizens,  the  Washington  Grays,  the  Lafay- 
ette Association,  the  Revolutionary  Officers,  and  the 
Young  Ladies  of  the  several  schools. 

A  grand  civic  ball  was  given  in  the  new  theatre,  ex- 
ceeding anything  of  the  kind  ever  witnessed  in  the 
city  before.  Seventeen  hundred  ladies  and  gentlemen 
were  present,  exhibiting  an  unrivalled  galaxy  of  elegance 
and  splendor.  But  the  details  of  this  brilliant  assembly 
cannot  be  given  in  words,  and  must  be  left  to  the  imagi- 
nation. Of  the  company  present  were  Mrs.  Robert  Mor- 
ris, the  two  Misses  Bollman,  daughters  of  Dr.  Erick  Boll- 
man,  Gov.  Schultze,  Gov.  Williamson,  John  Quincy 
Adams,  Gen.  Barnard,  and  two  hundred  citizens  from  the 
various  States  of  the  Union,  together  with  thousands  of 
joyful  spectators. 

The  next  day  a  most  beautiful  spectacle  was  exhibited 
in  the  State  House  yard,  where  2000  school  children  were 


116 

assembled,  all  dressed  in  uniform,  to   greet  and  receive 
an  address  from  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  fine,  we  must  cut  short  this  interesting  display,  and 
leave  it  half  untold.  Suffice  it  to  say,  the  General  spent 
*ix  days  at  Philadelphia  in  one  continual  round  of  visits 
and  receptions,  unequalled,  perhaps,  in  the  annals  of  time, 
and  departed,  at  last,  amid  the  roar  of  cannon  and  shouts 
of  the  multitude,  for  Washington  city. 


RECEPTION  AT   BALTIMORE,  MD. 

After  leaving  Philadelphia,  the  General  passed  through 
the  principal  towns  of  Delaware,  where  he  was  enthusi- 
astically received,  and  arrived  at  Frenchtown  in  the  even- 
ing;, and  went  on  board  the  steamer  United  States,  which 

O  7 

had  come  down  from  Baltimore  to  receive  him.  On  board 
the  boat,  he  was  highly  entertained  by  his  friends,  and 
staid  all  night.  Here,  he  had  an  unexpected  meeting  with 
his  old  friend,  Capt.  Du  Boismarten,  who  procured  for 
him,  and  commanded  the  vessel  that  first  landed  him  in 
this  country  in  1777.  The  Captain  was  a  venerable 
Frenchman  of  83  winters,  many  of  which  had  been  cheer- 
less and  bleak,  for  he  was  sadly  poor.  He  was  greatly 
overcome  in  meeting  Gen.  Lafayette,  and  left  him,  at 
last,  with  a  lighter  heart  and  heavier  purse. 

The  next  morning,  the  boat  proceeded  to  Baltimore,  and 
on  entering  the  Patapsco  river  was  met  by  five  steamers, 
all  beautifully  dressed  for  the  occasion,  full  of  joyous 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  which  sailed  round  the  steamer 
United  States,  and  cheered  the  General  as  they  passed. 
These  five  steamers  then  rounded  to,  and  followed  in  the 
wake  of  the  United  States  to  Fort  McHenry,  where  Gen. 
Lafayette  was  to  make  his  headquarters  while  in  Balti- 
more. 

The  General  was  received  on  the  platform  of  the  Fort 


117 

by  Col.  Hindman,  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  where  the  3(>th 
and  3<Sth  Regiments  had  their  stations.  On  entering  the 
gate,  the  troops  opened  to  the  right  and  left,  which  brought 
to  view  the  identical  tent  of  Gen.  Washington,  used  by 
him  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Here  Gov.  Stevens  greeted 
him  with  an  animated  address.  He  was  then  conducted 
into  the  tent,  where  he  found  members  of  the  Cincinnati, 
and  patriarchs  of  the  revolution.  The  meeting  was  most 
affecting ;  the  General  embraced  them  all,  and  all  were 
convulsed  with  tears  of  gratulation  and  joy. 

When  the  first  emotions  had  subsided,  Lafayette  cast 
his  eyes  round  the  tent,  and  discovering  a  part  of  the 
well  known  camp  equipage  of  Washington,  in  a  subdued 
voice  said,  "I  remember,  I  remember!  Language  can- 
not express  my  feelings  in  meeting  my  brothers  in  arms 
in  the  tent  of  Washington."  There  was  silence  and  tears 
in  the  tent  for  a  time. 

The  company  then  proceeded  to  an  adjoining  marquee, 
where  breakfast  had  been  prepared  for  the  occasion.  At 
the  close  of  this  repast,  the  General  was  conducted  to  a 
most  splendid  two  seated  barouche,  made  expressly  for 
the  occasion,  and  exceeding  in  beauty  anything  of  the 
kind  in  America ;  which  was  presented  to  the  General 
when  he  left  by  the  makers,  and  he  took  it  with  him  on 
his  Southern  tour.  The  venerable  Charles  Carroll  of 
Carrollton,  Gen.  Smith,  and  Col.  Howard,  took  seats  in 
the  carriage  with  Gen.  Lafayette  ;  and  when  it  left  the  outer 
gate  of  the  fort  was  met  by  a  thousand  cavalry,  which 
formed  his  escort  through  the  city.  In  passing  Federal 
Hill,  a  salute  of  twenty-four  guns  was  fired  to  denote  the 
number  of  States  in  the  Union.  After  passing  under 
splendid  arches,  the  General  beheld,  at  the  head  of  Market 
•street,  ten  thousand  men,  in  companies,  completely  armed 
and  in  full  uniform.  Here,  all  his  companions  left  the 
carriage,  and  the  General,  alone  in  the  barouche,  passed 


118       . 

along  the  whole  line,  then  took  a  fair  position,  and  the 
troops  passed  in  review  before  him.  The  appearance  of 
Market  street  was  most  animated  and  spldndid — every 
house-top,  window,  balcony,  door  and  sidewalk  being  filled 
with  joyous  spectators. 

The  city  of  Baltimore  was  filled  by  a  vast  multitude  of 
people  as  never  before  nor  since ;  yet  the  utmost  order 
prevailed,  and  the  General  was  greeted  throughout  all  the 
streets  with  all  the  tokens  of  welcome  that  human  feelings 
or  ingenuity  could  bestow. 

At  the  Exchange,  he  was  received  and  addressed  by  the 
Mayor,  and  introduced  to  the  Councils,  and  others.  He 
then  proceeded  to  a  pavilion  on  Light  street,  at  the  en- 
trance into  Market  street,  where  he  received  the  final 
passing  salutes  of  the  military  companies.  Language 
would  fail  to  describe  this  splendid  pageantry,  which  lasted 
nearly  two  hours. 

At  5  o'clock  a  sumptuous  feast  had  been  provided,  at 
which  the  Mayor  presided.  Among  the  guests  were  Win. 
Patterson,  Gov.  John  B.  Morris,  John  Quincy  Adams, 
then  Secretary  of  State ;  Gen.  Macomb,  of  the  U.  S. 
Army ;  Col.  Howard,  Gen.  Samuel  Smith,  Geo.  Wash- 
ington Custis  of  Arlington  ;  Generals  Strieker,  Stuart, 
Reed,  Benson,  Harper,  Stansbury  and  McDonald ;  the 
Colonels  commanding  regiments  in  the  State  and  city, 
together  with  a  large  number  of  guests  from  the  various 
States  in  the  Union. 

In  the  procession,  was  proudly  borne  the  standard  of  the 
brave  Count  Pulaski,  who  fell  at  the  assault  on  Savannah, 
fastened  to  one  of  the  spears  of  his  legion,  to  which  his 
sword  was  attached  by  his  cross-belt,  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Col.  Bentalo,  as  an  affectionate  memorial  of  his 
departed  friend. 

In  the  evening,  the  city  illumination  was  most  splendid  ; 
especially,  the  Exchange,  Dispensary,  Banks,  Theatre  and 


119 

Museum,  and  the  arches  were  in  a  full  blaze  of  light ; 
while  pyramids  of  fire  at  the  bridge,  and  a  revolving  star, 
three  feet  in  diameter,  had  an  imposing  effect,  hard  to 
describe.  The  whole  scene  was  interspersed  with  trans- 
parencies, mottoes  and  devices,  all  appropriate  to  the  oc- 
casion. 

The  ball-room  in  the  evening  was  most  splendidly 
decorated  and  illuminated.  After  the  ceremony  of  intro- 
ducing the  General  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  was  over, 
at  the  signal  of  a  bugle  blast,  the  dancing  instantly  began. 
In  time,  supper  was  announced,  and  the  managers  escorted 
the  General  into  a  hall  no  less  splendid  than  the  ball-room 
itself.  The  cheerful  conviviality,  appropriate  and  cordial 
hilarity,  may  be  considered  as  the  finishing  touch  to  the 
magnificent  fete  at  Baltimore. 


The  addresses  to  and  from  General  Lafayette  were  so 
numerous,  that  I  have  given  them  merely  a  passing 
notice ;  but  the  official  addresses  at  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment in  Washington  city,  I  give  entire. 

v      ADDRESS  OF  SPEAKER  CLAY. 

IX  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  DEC.  10,  1824. 

GENERAL  :  The  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States,  impelled  alike  by  their  own  feelings  and  by  those 
of  the  whole  American  people,  could  not  have  assigned 
me  a  more  gratifying  duty  than  of  being  its  organ  to  pre- 
sent to  you  cordial  congratulations  upon  the  occasion  of 
your  recent  arrival  in  the  United  States,  in  compliance 
with  the  wishes  of  Congress  ;  and  to  assure  you  of  the 
high  satisfaction  which  your  presence  affords  on  this  early 
theatre  of  your  glory  and  renown.  Although  but  few  of 
the  members  who  compose  this  body  shared  with  you,  in 
the  war  of  the  revolution,  all  have  a  knowledge  from  im- 
partial history,  or  from  faithful  tradition,  of  the  perils, 


120 

the  sufferings  and  sacrifices,  which  you  have  voluntarily 
encountered,  and  the  signal  services  in  America  and  in 
Europe  which  you  performed  for  an  infant,  a  distant  and 
an  alien  people,  and  all  feel  and  own  the  very  great  extent 
of  the  obligations  under  which  you  have  placed  this  coun- 
try. But  the  relations  in  which  you  have  ever  stood  to 
the  United  States,  interesting  and  important  as  they  have 
been,  do  not  constitute  the  only  motive  of  the  respect  and 
admiration  which  the  House  entertains  for  you.  Your 
consistency  of  character,  your  uniform  devotion  to  regu- 
lated liberty,  in  all  the  vicissitudes  of  a  long  and  arduous 
life,  also  commands  its  highest  admiration.  During  all 
the  recent  convulsions  of  Europe,  amidst,  as  after  the 
dispersion  of,  every  political  storm,  the  people  of  the 
United  States  have  ever  beheld  you  true  to  your  old  prin- 
ciples, firm  and  erect,  cheering  and  animating  with  your 
well  known  voice  the  votaries  of  liberty,  its  faithful  and 
fearless  champion,  ready  to  shed  the  last  drop  of  that 
blood  which  you  so  freely  and  nobly  spilled  in  the  same 
holy  cause. 

The  vain  wish  has  sometimes  been  indulged,  that  Prov- 
idence would  allow  the  Patriot,  after  death,  to  return  to 
his  country,  and  to  contemplate  the  intermediate  changes 
which  had  taken  place — to  view  the  forests  felled,  the 
cities  built,  the  mountains  leveled,  the  canals  cut,  the 
highways  constructed,  the  progress  of  the  arts,  the  ad- 
vancement of  learning,  and  the  increase  of  population. 
General,  your  present  visit  to  the  United  States  is  the 
consoling  object  of  that  wish.  You  are  in  the  midst  of 
posterity.  Everywhere  you  must  have  been  struck  with 
the  great  changes,  physical  and  moral,  which  have  occurred 
since  you  left  us.  Even  this  very  city,  bearing  a  vener- 
ated name  alike  endeared  to  you  and  to  us,  has  since 
emei-ged  from  the  forest  which  then  covered  its  site.  In 
one  respect,  you  behold  us  unaltered,  and  that  is  in  this 


121 

sentiment  of  continued  devotion  to  liberty,  and  of  ardent 
affection  and  profound  gratitude  to  your  departed  friend, 
the  Father  of  this  Country,  and  to  your  illustrious  associ- 
ates in  the  field  and  in  the  cabinet,  for  the  multiplied 
blessings  which  surround  us,  and  for  the  very  privilege 
of  addressing  you,  which  I  now  exercise.  This  sentiment, 
now  fondly  cherished  by  more  than  ten  millions  of  people, 
will  be  transmitted,  with  unabated  vigor,  down  the  tide 
of  time,  through  the  countless  millions  who  are  destined 
to  inhabit  this  continent,  to  the  latest  posterity. 

GENERAL  LAFAYETTE'S  REPLY. 

MR.  SPEAKER,  AND  GENTLEMEN  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF 
REPRESENTATIVES  :  While  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  and  their  honorable  Representatives  in  Congress, 
have  deigned  to  make  choice  of  me,  one  of  the  American 
veterans,  to  signify  in.  his  person  their  esteem  for  our 
joint  services,  and  their  attachment  to  the  principles  for 
which  we  have  had  the  honor  to  fight  and  bleed,  I  am 
proud  and  happy  to  share  these  extraordinary  favors  with 
my  dear  revolutionary  companions  ;  and  yet,  it  would  be 
on  my  part  uncandid  and  ungrateful  not  to  acknowledge 
my  personal  share  in  these  testimonials  of  kindness,  as 
they  excite  in  my  breast  emotions  which  no  adequate  words 
can  express. 

My  obligations  to  the  United  States,  sir,  far  exceed 
any  merit  I  might  claim.  They  date  from  the  time  I  had 
the  happiness  to  be  adopted  as  a  young  soldier,  a  favored 
son  of  America.  They  have  been  continued  to  me  during 
almost  half  a  century  of  constant  affection  and  confidence  ; 
and  now,  sir,  thanks  to  your  most  gratifying  invitation,  I 
find  myself  greeted  by  a  series  of  welcomes,  one  hour  of 
which  would  more  than  compensate  for  all  the  public  ex- 
ertions and  sufferings  of  a  whole  life. 

The  approbation  of  the  American  people,  and  their 
16 


122 

Representatives,  for  my  conduct  during  the  vicissitudes  of 
the  European  revolution,  is  the  highest  reward  I  could 
receive.  Well  may  I  stand  firm  and  erect,  when  in  their 
names,  and  by  you,  Mr.  Speaker,  I  am  declared  to  have, 
in  every  instance,  been  faithful  to  those  American  princi- 
ples of  liberty,  equality,  and  true  social  order — the  devo- 
tion to  which,  as  it  has  been  from  my  earliest  youth,  so 
shall  it  continue  to  be  to  my  latest  breath. 

You  have  been  pleased,  Mr.  Speaker,  to  allude  to  the 
peculiar  felicity  of  my  situation,  when,  after  so  long  an 
absence,  I  am  called  to  witness  the  immense  improvements, 
the  admirable  communications,  the  prodigious  creations, 
of  which  I  find  an  example  in  this  city,  whose  name  itself 
is  a  venerated  palladium  ;  in  a  word,  all  the  grandeur  and 
prosperity  of  these  happy  States,  which  reflect  on  every 
part  of  the  world  a  superior  political  civilization. 

What  better  pledge  can  be  given  of  a  continued  national 
love  of  liberty,  where  these  blessings  are  evidently  the  re- 
sult of  a  virtuous  resistance  to  oppression,  and  the  institu- 
tions founded  on  the  rights  of  man,  and  the  republican  prin- 
ciples of  self-government.  Xo,  Mr.  Speaker,  posterity  has 
not  begun  for  me,  since  in  the  sons  of  my  companions  and 
friends,  I  find  the  same  public  feelings,  and  permit  me  to 
add,  the  same  feelings  in  my  behalf,  which  I  have  had  the 
happiness  to  experience  in  their  fathers. 

Sir,  forty  years  ago,  to  a  Congress  of  thirteen  States, 
I  was  allowed  to  express  the  fond  wishes  of  an  American 
heart.  On  this  day  I  have  the  honor,  and  enjoy  the  de- 
light of  congratulating  the  Representatives  of  the  Union, 
so  vastly  enlarged,  on  the  realization  of  those  wishes, 
even  beyond  every  human  expectation,  and  upon  the  al- 
most infinite  prospects  we  can  with  certainty  anticipate. 

Permit  me,  Mr.  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House 
.of  Representatives,  to  join  to  the  expression  of  those  sen- 
timents, a  tribute  of  my  profound  gratitude,  devotion  and 
respect. 


123 

FAREWELL   ADDRESS   OF   PRESIDENT 
JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 

SEPTEMBER  <5,  1823. 

GENERAL  LAFAYETTE  :  It  has  been  the  good  fortune 
of  many  of  iny  distinguished  fellow-citizens,  during  the 
course  of  the  year  now  elapsed,  upon  your  arrival  at  their 
respective  places  of  abode,  to  greet  you  with  the  welcome 
of  the  nation.  The  less  pleasing  task  now  devolves  upon 
me,  of  bidding  you,  in  the  name  of  the  nation,  Adieu. 

It  were  no  longer  seasonable,  and  would  be  superfluous, 
to  recapitulate  the  remarkable  incidents  of  your  early  life — 
incidents  which  associated  your  name,  fortunes,  and  repu- 
tation, in  imperishable  connection  with  the  independence 
and  history  of  the  North  American  Union. 

The  part  which  you  performed  at  that  important  junc- 
ture was  marked  with  characters  so  peculiar,  that,  realiz- 
ing the  fairest  fable  of  antiquity,  its  parallel  could  scarcely 
be  found  in  the  authentic  records  of  human  history. 

You  deliberately  and  perse veringly  preferred  toil,  dan- 
ger, the  endurance  of  every  hardship,  and  the  privation 
of  every  comfort,  in  defence  of  a  holy  cause,  to  inglorious 
ease,  and  the  allurements  of  rank,  affluence,  and  unre- 
strained youth,  at  the  most  splendid  and  fascinating  Court 
of  Europe. 

That  this  choice  was  not  less  wise  than  magnanimous, 
the  sanction  of  half  a  century,  and  the  gratulations  of 
unnumbered  voices,  all  unable  to  express  the  gratitude  of 
the  heart  with  which  your  visit  to  this  hemisphere  has 
been  welcomed,  afford  ample  demonstration. 

When  the  contest  of  freedom,  to  which  you  had  repaired 
as  a  voluntary  champion,  had  closed,  by  the  complete  tri- 
umph of  her  cause  in  this  country  of  your  adoption,  you 
returned  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  the  philanthropist  and 
patriot  in  the  land  of  your  nativity.  There,  in  a  consis- 
tent and  undeviating  career  of  forty  years,  you  have  main- 


124 

tained,  through  every  vicissitude  of  alternate  success  and 
disappointment,  the  same  glorious  cause  to  which  the  first 
years  of  your  active  life  had  been  devoted,  the  improve- 
ment ftf  the  moral  and  political  condition  of  man. 

Throughout  that  long  succession  of  time,  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  for  whom,  and  with  whom,  you  had 
fought  the.  battles  of  liberty,  have  been  living  in  the 
full  possession  of  its  fruits  ;  one  of  the  happiest  among 
the  family  of  nations.  Spreading  in  population  ;  enlarg- 
ing in  territory ;  acting  and  suffering  according  to  the 
condition  of  their  nature ;  and  laying  the  foundations  of 
the  greatest,  and,  we  humbly  hope,  the  most  beneficent 
power  that  ever  regulated  the  concerns  of  man  upon  earth. 

In  that  lapse  of  forty  years,  the  generation  of  men  with 
whom  you  co-operated  in  the  conflict  of  arms,  has  nearly 
passed  away.  Of  the  general  officers  of  the  American 
army  in  that  war,  you  alone  survive.  Of  the  sages  who 
guided  our  councils ;  of  the  warriors  who  met  the  foe  in 
the  field  or  upon  the  wave,  with  the  exception  of  a  few, 
to  whom  unusual  length  of  days  has  been  allotted  ,by 
Heaven,  all  now  sleep  with  their  fathers.  A  succeeding, 
and  even  a  third  generation,  have  arisen  to  take  their 
places  ;  and  their  children's  children,  while  rising  up  to 
call  them  blessed,  have  been  taught  by  them,  as  well  as 
admonished  by  their  own  constant  enjoyment  of  freedom, 
to  include  in  every  benison  upon  their  fathers,  the  name 
of  him  who  came  from  afar,  with  them  and  in  their  cause, 
to  conquer  or  to  fall. 

The  universal  prevalence  of  these  sentiments  was  sig- 
nally manifested  by  a  resolution  of  Congress,  representing 
the  whole  people,  and  all  the  States  of  this  Union,  re- 
questing the  President  of  the  United  States  to  communi- 
cate to  you  the  assurances  of  grateful  and  affectionate 
attachment  of  this  government  and  people,  and  desiring 
that  a  national  ship  might  be  employed,  at  your  conven- 
ience, for  your  passage  to  the  borders  of  our  country. 


125 

The  invitation  was  transmitted  to  you  by  my  venerable 
predecessor ;  himself  bound  to  you  by  the  strongest  ties 
of  personal  friendship  ;  himself  one  of  those  whom  the 
highest  honors  of  his  country  had  rewarded  for  blood  early 
shed  in  her  cause,  and  for  a  long  life  of  devotion  to  her 
welfare.  By  him  the  services  of  a  national  ship  were 
placed  at  your  disposal.  Your  delicacy  preferred  a  more 
private  conveyance,  and  a  full  year  has  elapsed  since  you 
landed  upon  our  shores.  It  were  scarcely  an  exaggeration 
to  say,  that  it  has  been,  to  the  people  of  the  Union,  a 
year  of  uninterrupted  festivity  and  enjoyment,  inspired  by 
your  presence.  You  have  traversed  the  twenty-four  States 
of  this  Confederacy.  You  have  been  received  with  rap- 
ture by  the  survivors  of  your  earliest  companions  in  arms. 
You  have  been  hailed  as  a  long  absent  parent  by  their 
children,  the  men  and  women  of  the  present  age.  And 
a  rising  generation,  the  hope  of  future  time,  in  numbers 
surpassing  the  whole  population  of  that  day  when  you 
fought  at  the  head  and  by  the  side  of  their  forefathers, 
have  vied  with  the  scanty  remnants  of  that  hour  of  trial, 
in  acclamations  of  joy  beholding  the  face  of  him  whom 
they  feel  to  be  the  common  benefactor  of  all.  You  have 
heard  the  mingled  voices  of  the  past,  the  present,  and  the 
future  age,  joining  in  one  universal  chorus  of  delight  at 
your  approach ;  and  the  shouts  of  unbidden  thousands, 
which  greeted  your  landing  on  the  soil  of  freedom,  have 
followed  every  step  of  your  way,  and  still  resound,  like 
the  rushing  of  many  waters,  from  every  corner  of  our 
land. 

You  are  now  about  to  return  to  the  country  of  your 
birth,  of  your  ancestors,  of  your  posterity.  The  execu- 
tive government  of  the  Union,  stimulated  by  the  same 
feeling  which  had  prompted  the  Congress  to  the  designa- 
tion of  a  national  ship  for  your  accommodation  in  coining 
hither,  has  destined  the  first  service  of  a  frigate,  recently 


126 

launched  at  this  metropolis,  to  the  less  welcome,  but 
equally  distinguished  trust,  of  conveying  you  home.  •  The 
name  of  the  ship  has  added  one  more  memorial  to  distant 
regions  and  to  future  ages,  of  a  stream  already  memora- 
ble, at  once  in  the  story  of  your  sufferings  and  of  our 
independence . 

The  ship  is  now  prepared  for  your  reception,  and 
equipped  for  sea.  From  the  moment  of  her  departure, 
the  prayers  of  millions  will  ascend  to  Heaven  that  her 
passage  may  be  prosperous,  and  your  return  to  the  bosom 
of  your  family  as  propitious  to  your  happiness,  as  your 
visit  to  this  scene  of  your  youthful  glory  has  been  to  that 
of  the  American  people. 

Go,  then,  our  beloved  friend — return  to  the  land  of 
brilliant  genius,  of  generous  sentiment,  of  heroic  valor ; 
to  that  beautiful  France,  the  nursing  mother  of  the  twelfth 
Louis  and  the  fourth  HENRY  ;  to  the  native  soil  of  BAY- 
ARD and  COLIGNI,  of  TURENNE  and  CATINAT,  of  FENE- 
LON  and  D'AGUESSEAU.  In  that  illustrious  catalogue  of 
names  which  she  claims  as  of  her  children,  and  with  hon- 
est pride  holds  up  to  the  admiration  of  other  nations,  the 
name  of  LAFAYETTE  has  already  for  centuries  been  en- 
rolled. And  it  shall  henceforth  burnish  into  brighter 
fame  ;  for  if,  in  after  days ,  a  Frenchman  shall  be  called  to 
indicate  the  character  of  his  nation  by  that  of  one  indi- 
vidual, during  the  age  in  which  we  live,  the  blood  of 
lofty  patriotism  shall  mantle  in  his  cheek,  the  fire  of  con- 
scious virtue  shall  sparkle  in  his  eye,  and  he  shall  pro- 
nounce the  name  of  LAFAYETTE.  Yet  we  too,  and- our 
children,  in  life  and  after  death,  shall  claim  you  for  our 
own.  You  are  ours  by  that  more  than  patriotic  self- 
devotion  with  which  you  flew  to  the  aid  of  our  fathers  at 
the  crisis  of  their  fate.  Ours  by  that  long  series  of  years 
in  which  you  have  cherished  us  in  your  regard.  Ours  by 
the  unshaken  sentiment  of  gratitude  for  your  services 


127 

which  is  a  precious  portion  of  our  inheritance.  Ours  by 
that  tie  of  love,  stronger  than  death,  which  has  linked 
your  name,  for  the  endless  ages  of  time,  with  the  name 
of  WASHINGTON. 

At  the  painful  moment  of  parting  from  you,  we  take 
comfort  in  the  thought,  that  wherever  you  may  be,  to  the 
last  pulsation  of  your  heart,  our  country  will  be  ever 
present  to  your  affections ;  and  a  cheering  consolation 
assures  us,  that  we  are  not  called  to  sorrow  most  of  all, 
that  we  shall  see  your  face  no  more.  We  shall  indulge 
the  pleasing  anticipation  of  beholding  our  friend  again. 
In  the  meantime,  speaking  in  the  name  of  the  whole 
people  of  the  United  States,  and  at  a  loss  only  for  lan- 
guage to  give  utterance  to  that  feeling  of  attachment  with 
which  the  heart  of  the  nation  beats,  as  the  heart  of  one 
man — I  bid  you  a  reluctant  and  affectionate  farewell. 

GENERAL  LAFAYETTE'S  REPLY. 

Amidst  all  my  obligations  to  the  General  Government, 
and  particularly  to  you,  Sir,  its  respected  Chief  Magis- 
trate, I  have  most  thankfully  to  acknowledge  the  oppor- 
tunity given  me,  at  this  solemn  and  painful  moment,  to 
present  to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  with  a  parting 
tribute  of  profound,  inexpressible  gratitude. 

To  have  been,  in  the  important  and  critical  days  of  those 
States,  adopted  by  them  as  a  favorite  son ;  to  have  par- 
ticipated with  them  in  the  toils  and  perils  of  our  unspot- 
ted struggle  for  independence,  freedom  and  equal  rights  ; 
and,  in  the  foundation  of  the  American  era,  of  a  new  so- 
cial order,  which  has  already  pervaded  this,  and  must,  for 
the  dignity  and  happiness  of  mankind,  successively  per- 
vade every  part  of  the  other  hemisphere  ;  to  have  received 
at  every  stage  of  the  revolution,  and  during  forty  years 
after  that  period,  from  the  people  of  the  United  States. 
and  their  Representatives,  at  home  and  abroad,  continued 


128' 

marks  of  their  confidence  and  kindness,  lias  been  the 
pride,  the  encouragement,  the  support  of  a  long  and 
eventful  life. 

But  how  can  I  find  words  to  acknowledge  that  series 
of  welcomes,  those  unbounded  and  universal  displays  of 
public  affection,  which  have  marked  each  step,  each  hour 
of  the  twelve  months'  progress  through  the  twenty-four 
States  ;  and  which,  while  they  overwhelm  my  heart  with 
grateful  delight,  have  most  satisfactorily  evinced  the  con- 
currence of  the  people  in  the  kind  testimonies,  in  the  im- 
mense favors  bestowed  upon  me  by  the  several  branches 
of  their  Representatives,  in  every  part,  and  at  the  central 
seat  of  the  Confederacy. 

Yet,  gratifications  still  higher  await  me,  in  the  wonders 
of  creation  and  improvement  that  have  met  my  enchanted 
eye ;  in  the  unparalled  and  self-felt  happiness  of  the  peo- 
ple, in  their  rapid  prosperity  and  insured  security,  public 
and  private  ;  in  the  practice  of  good  order,  the  appendage 
of  true  freedom  and  a  national  good  sense,  the  final  arbi- 
ter of  all  difficulties.  I  have  had  proudly  to  recognize  a 
result  of  the  republican  principles  for  which  we  have 
fought,  and  a  glorious  demonstration  to  the  most  timid 
and  prejudicial  mind,  of  the  superiority  over  degrading 
aristocracy  or  despotism,  of  popular  institutions,  founded 
on  the  plain  rights  of  man,  and  where  the  local  rights  of 
every  section  are  preserved  under  a  constitutional  bond  of 
union.  The  cherishing  of  that  union  between  the  States, 
as  it  has  been  the  farewell  entreaty  of  our  great  paternal 
Washington,  and  will  ever  have  the  dying  prayer  of  every 
patriotic  American  ;  so  it  has  become  the  sacred  pledge  of 
the  emancipation  of  the  world ;  an  object  in  which,  I  am 
happy  to  observe  that  the  American  people,  while  they 
give  the  animating  example  of  successful  free  institutions 
in  return  for  an  evil  entailed  upon  them  by  Europe  ;  and 
of  which  a  liberal  and  enlightened  sense  is  everywhere 


129 

more  and  more  generally  felt,  show  themselves  every 
day  more  anxiously  interested. 

And  now,  Sir,  how  can  I  do  justice  to  my  deep  feel- 
ings, for  the  assurances,  most  peculiarly  valued,  of  your 
esteem  and  friendship  ;  for  your  kind  references  to  old 
times,  to  my  beloved  associates,  to  the  vicissitudes  of  my 
life,  for  your  affectionate  picture  of  the  blessings  poured 
by  the  several  generations  of  the  American  people  on  the 
remaining  days  of  a  delighted  veteran,  for  your  affection- 
ate remarks  on  this  sad  hour  of  separation,  on  the  country 
of  my  birth,  full  I  can  say  of  American  sympathies  ;  on 
the  hope,  so  necessary  for  me,  of  seeing  again  the  country 
that  had  deigned,  near  half  a  century  ago,  to  call  me 
hers  !  I  shall  content  myself,  refraining  from  superfluous 
repetitions,  at  once  before  you,  Sir,  and  this  respected 
circle,  to  proclaim  my  cordial  confirmation  of  every  one 
of  the  sentiments  which  I  have  had  daily  opportunities 
publicly  to  utter,  from  the  time  when  your  remarkable 
predecessor,  my  old  friend  and  brother  in  arms,  transmit- 
ted to  me  the  honorable  invitation  of  Congress,  to  this 
day,  when  you,  my  dear  Sir,  whose  friendly  connections 
with  me,  date  from  your  earliest  youth,  are  going  to  con- 
sign me  to  the  protection  across  the  Atlantic,  of  the  heroic 
national  flag,  on  board  the  splendid  ship  "Brandywine," 
the  name  of  which  has  been  not  the  least  flattering  and 
kind,  among  the  numberless  favors  conferred  upon  me. 

God  bless  you,  Sir,  and  all  who  surround  us.  God 
bless  the  American  people,  each  of  their  States,  and  the 
Federal  Government.  Accept  this  patriotic  farewell  of 
an  overflowing  heart — such  will  be  its  last  throb  when  it 
ceases  to  beat. 


At  the  close  of  the  President's   address,  the  General 
embraced  him  in  his  arms,  saluting  him  in  th»  French 
manner  on   each  cheek.     And   on  pronouncing  the  last 
17 


130 

sentence  of  his  answer,  he  advanced,  and  while  the  tears 
poured  over  his  venerable  cheeks,  again  took  the  Presi- 
dent in  his  arms.  He  retired  a  few  paces,  but,  overcome 
by  his  feelings,  again  returned,  uttering  in  a  broken  voice, 
and  with  great  emotion,  "God  bless  you;  farewell;  God 
bless  you  !  "  The  scene  was  at  once  solemn  and  moving  ; 
as  the  sighs  and  stealing  tears  of  many — nay,  of  all — who 
witnessed  it  bore  testimony.  The  greetings  were  contin- 
ued, when  self-possession  had  been  recovered,  till  each 
individual  had  shared  in  the  pledge  of  kindness.  In  bid- 
ding adieu  to  one  of  the  sons  of  Mr.  Adams,  whom  the 
General  long  held  by  the  hand,  his  eyes  beamed  with 
paternal  affection.  With  Mr.  Clay,  whose  countenance 
gave  token  that  he  had  not  escaped  the  "  soft  infection," 
the  General  held  much  converse  ;  and  while  the  refresh- 
ments of  the  hospitable  mansion  were  in  circulation,  the 
company  gathered  around  the  Guest,  to  take  another  and 
yet  another  farewell  look,  and  to  seize  once  more  "that 
beloved  hand  which  was  opened  so  freely  for  our  aid  when 
aid  was  so  precious,  and  which  grasped  with  firm  and 
undeviating  hold,  the  steel  which  so  essentially  helped  to 
achieve  our  deliverance." 

The  procession  being  formed,  a  salute  of  24  guns  an- 
nounced the  order  for  its  movement.  On  the  appearance 
of  the  President,  with  the  guest,  in  the  Court  in  front  of 
the  house,  a  general  salute  was  given  to  the  President  by 
the  troops. 

The  General  was  then  attended  to  his  barouche  by 
Messrs.  Clay,  Southard  and  Rush,  who  rode  with  him. 
The  procession  then  moved  in  the  prescribed  order ;  the 
brigades  of  volunteers  passing  before  the  President  in 
review. 

When  arrived  near  where  the  "  Mount  Vernon  "  steam- 
boat was  gallantly  riding  on  the  Potomac  to  receive  him, 
the  guest  took  a  station,  in  his  barouche,  when  the  whole 


131 

military  escort,  commanded  by  Gen.  Smith,  passed  him 
in  review,  paying  him  the  customary  honors.  After  this, 
Mrs.  Custis,  Mrs.  Lewis,  (of  the  Washington  family,) 
and  other  friends,  took  their  leave  individually.  He  then 
descended,  and  was  escorted  to  the  steamer,*  which  at 
half  past  three  o'clock  mov,ed  from  the  wharf,  under  a 
farewell  salute  of  24  guns,  the  huzzas  of  many  thousands 
crowning  the  eminences,  and  the  broken  shouts  of  scattered 
multitudes  assembled  on  the  shores. 

As  the  boat  passed  the  Point,  the  Navy  Yard  and  the 
Fort,  salutes  were  fired  in  succession  ;  and  the  shouts  of 
adieu  continued  till  the  boat  was  entirely  lost  to  the  view. 
Thus  terminated  a  day  which  memory  and  history  will 
cherish,  and  which  will  be  reverted  to  with  feelings  of 
pride  and  rapture  by  our  descendants,  when  those  who 
were  the  actors  in  it  shall  have  passed  from  the  theatre  of 
human,  existence. 


It  is  now  a  hundred  years  since  Gen.  Lafayette  first  set 
his  foot  on  American  soil,  and  more  than  half  a  century 
since  his  last  visit.  But  few  now  living  have  ever  seen 
him  ;  and  less  memorials  of  him  than  of  Washington  now 
remain.  And  as  Lafayette  was  a  foreigner,  and  but  a  few 
years  in  this  country,  he  never  was  so  well  known  as 
Washington.  Nor  has  he  been  so  fortunate  as  to  have  a 
Marshall,  Sparks  or  AVashington  Irving  to  write  his  life 
and  times.  Small  volumes  and  brief  sketches  have  been 
published,  but  very  incomplete,  and  sometimes  erroneous. 


*  In  explanation  of  the  guest's  going  on  board  a  steamer  at  the 
Navy  Yard,  it  should  be  stated  that  the  Brandywine,  in  which  he 
was  to  embark  and  return  to  France,  was  a  sailing  vessel,  depend- 
ing on  the  wind,  and  of  such  a  large  size  that  it  could  not  be  readily 
handled  in  the  upper  waters  of  the  Potomac ;  and  therefore  it  was 
anchored  some  20  miles  down  the  stream,  where  the  river  was  much 
larger  and  the  water  deeper. 


132 

Nor  has  he  ever  to  the  public  appeared  or  been  esteemed 
at  his  real  worth.  Many  have  supposed  that  as  he  was  an 
impulsive  Frenchman,  he  was  fickle-minded  and  super- 
ficial. But  he  was  very  far  from  all  this ;  for  he  was  a 
man  of  a  strong  mind,  a  deep  thinker  and  a  ripe  scholar. 
Impulsive  he  was,  and  did  nothing  by  halves  ;  but  what 
his  hand  found  to  do  that  ought  to  be  done,  he  did  with 
all  his  might.  That  less  should  be  known  of  him  than  of 
Washington,  is  no  marvel.  And  far  be  it  from  me  to 
eulogize  the  one  at  the  expense  of  the  other. 

In  early  life  I  was  taught  to  venerate  the  name  of  the 
Father  of  his  Country,  who  was  pronounced  to  be  first  in 
war,  first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  country- 
men. It  is  said  that  republics  are  ungrateful.  Whatever 
truth  there  may  have  been  in  ancient  republics,  ours  does 
not  come  under  that  condemnation. 

In  early  manhood,  I  lived  three  years  in  the  State  of 
Virginia.  In  that  time,  I  travelled  much  over  the  State  ; 
and,  in  addition  to  its  curiosities  and  matchless  scenery,  I 
visited  the  place  of  Washington's  birth,  on  what  is  called 
the  "Northern  Xeck,"  in  the  County  of  Westmoreland, 
between  the  Potomac  and  Rappahannock  rivers.  The 
house  in  which  he  was  born  was  in  ruins  ;  as  was  also  the 
house  where  he  and  his  widowed  mother  had  lived,  op- 
posite to  the  city  of  Fredericksburg.  He  was  said  to 
have  been  an  athletic  youth,  and  beat  all  his  associates  in 
sports  that  required  great  muscular  strength,  such  as  leap- 
ing and  tossing  the  bar.  He  was  said  to  have  been  the 
only  youth  that  could  cast  a  stone  across  the  Rappahan- 
nock river  at  Fredericksburg.  I  tried  my  hand  at  it,  but 
could  throw  a  stone  only  about  two-thirds  of  that  distance. 
His  mother  spent  her  last  days  in  that  city,  and  was  there 
buried. 

I  also  beheld,  with  awe  and  veneration,  Mount  Vernon, 
the  home  of  Washington,  and  the  tomb  where  his  mortal 


133 

remains  repose.  These  scenes  impressed  me  profoundly 
at  the  time,  as  the  remembrance  of  them  does  now. 

And,  moreover,  the  patriotic  ladies  of  the  land,  in 
1858,  formed  a  society  called  the  "  Ladies' Mount  Vernon 
Association,"  appointed  agents  throughout  the  whole 
country,  raised  money  by  subscription  and  donation,  and 
purchased  Mount  Vernon  with  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
at  the  large  price  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  is  a  large  sum  to  be  raised  by 
voluntary  contribution,  but  the  patriotic  ladies  were  equal 
to  the  task.  They  induced  the  great  orator,  Edward  Ever- 
ett, to  write  and  deliver  throughout  the  land,  one  of  the 
most  touching  and  eloquent  lectures  on  Washington  that 
was  ever  written.  And  this  lecture  was  delivered  in  the 
principal  towns  and  cities  sixty-five  times  !  One  might 
well  suppose  that  a  lecture,  continually  repeated  by  the 
author,  would  in  time  pall  upon  the  senses,  and  become 
tame  and  insipid,  and  listlessly  delivered.  But  the  tra- 
dition is,  that  he  stood  up  to  the  work  like  a  martyr,  and 
delivered  it  the  last  time  with  the  same  energy  and  pathos 
as  at  the  first.  And  all  this  was  done  without  any  com- 
pensation to  himself,  and  the  large  sums  obtained  as  ad- 
mission fees,  were  added  to  the  purchasing  funds. 

And  this  Association  of  ladies,  having  completed  the 
purchase  of  Mount  Vernon ;  by  their  agent,  now  occupy 
the  premises,  put  the  same  in  complete  repair,  as  in  the 
days  of  Washington,  and  dedicated  it  to  the  nation  as  a 
place  of  public  resort  and  pilgrimage  forever. 

And  now  what  more  can  be  said  or  done  in  regard  to 
Washington?  In  his  case,  surely,  the  republic  has  not 
been  ungrateful. 

As  to  General  Lafayette,  what  more  can  be  done  to 
show  a  nation's  gratitude?  Lagrange,  his  beautiful  home 
in  France,  is  not  purchasable,  as  his  posterity  still  occupy  ; 
and  if  it  could  be,  it  is  in  a  foreign  country,  and  could 


134 

not  be  made  a  place  of  resort  for  the  American  people. 
But  these  pages  will  show  abundant  manifestations  of 
gratitude  to  Gen.  Lafayette,  and  nothing  now  seems 
needful  to  be  done  but  to  erect  monuments  to  his  mem- 
ory, the  same  as  to  Washington  himself.  There  is  not 
so  much  said  or  done  in  regard  to  Lafayette  as  in  former 
times,  for  the  present  generation  do  not  know  him  as  well, 
and  I  feel  that  he  ought  to  be  known  and  esteemed  as  in 
times  past.  To  this  end  have  I  written,  and  I  hope  not 
in  vain. 

And  now,  most  respectfully,  I  dedicate  this  brief  sketch 
of  the  life  of  Gen.  Lafayette  to  the  youth  of  America,  in 
the  hope  and  fervent  wish  that  his  noble  life  will  influence 
theirs,  even  more  than  it  has  that  of  the  author.  If  that 
wish  should  be  gratified,  we  shall  have  no  more  selfish, 
narrow-minded  and  dishonest  politicians  ;  but  honest  men 
and  true  patriots  will  bear  rule,  and  the  country  will  be- 
come, what  Gen.  Lafayette  prayed  it  might,  the  greatest 
and  most  glorious  nation  on  earth. 


MAJOR  ANDRE. 


[The  following  Sketch  of  the  unfortunate  Maj.  Andre 
was  written  in  1821,  and  published  in  the  newspapers  of 
the  time.  It  gives  so  much  more  information  of  him  than 
the  brief  notice  in  my  "  Recollections,"  that  I  insert  the 
article  entire.] 

As  the  gallant,  amiable  but  unfortunate  Major  Andre 
has  again  been  brought  into  notice  by  the  removal  of  his 
remains  from  Tappan,  a  notice  of  the  causes  which  led 
him  to  join  the  army  in  America  and  his  ignominious  exit 
on  a  gibbet,  may  not  at  this  time  be  unacceptable.  His 
family  resided  at  Claptan  near  London  for  the  most  part 


135 

of  the  time  ;  and  consisted  of  his  mother,  three  sisters — 
Maria,  Anna  and  Louisa — and  his  brother  William.  They 
were  very  respectable,  moved  in  the  first  circles  and  had 
many  friends  ;  for  there  seems  to  have  been  something 
very  fascinating  and  cordial  in  their  manners,  together 
with  an  engaging  personal  appearance  that  riveted  the 
affections  of  all  their  acquaintances.  The  family  were 
well  acquainted  at  Litchfield,  a  pleasant  village,  120  miles 
from  their  residence,  and  took  much  delight  in  their  visits 
there  ;  especially  John  Andre,  the  hero  of  our  story.  He 
seems  to  have  been  formed  by  nature  to  love  and  be 
beloved.  His  personal  appearance  was  noble  and  fascin- 
ating, and  his  acquirements  were  such  as  to  give  an  addi- 
tional attraction  to  the  advantages  of  nature.  He  had 
invoked  the  muses  with  considerable  success,  and  was  a 
musician  and  painter.  He  was  a  belles  lettres  scholar  and 
well  versed  in  history  and  politics ;  and  in  short,  his 
acquirements  were  such  as  to  enable  him  to  shine  in  any 
circle,  and  become,  as  in  fact  he  did,  the  idol  of  his  family 
and  friends.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  became  more 
particularly  attached  to  a  young  lady  of  Litchfield,  by  the 
name  of  Honora  Snyed.  His  attachment  appears  to  have 
been  something  more  than  the  evanescent  kind,  which 
vanishes  with  its  object ;  for  it  neither  abated  nor  dimin- 
ished by  time  or  distance,  but  continued  to  the  last 
moment  of  his  life.  It  appears,  he  was  not  indifferent  to 
his  fair  Honora ;  she  received  his  addresses,  and  avowed 
a  reciprocal  attachment.  Honora's  health  at  this  time  was 
very  delicate  ;  so  much  so,  that  she  was  forbidden  to  cor- 
respond with  any  one  ;  the  intercourse  between  them  was 
continued,  however,  through  the  medium  of  her  sister 
Anna,  in  whose  letters  Honora  would  add  a  postscript. 

As  the  family  did  not  possess  an  independent  fortune, 
Maj.  Andre  established  himself  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  TVarnford  Court,  London.  The  drudgery  of  a  count- 


13(5 

ing-room  illy  agreed  with  his  ardent  imagination,  and 
nothing  but  the  soothing  idea,  that  he 'was  acquiring 
property  to  share  with  his  Honora,  rendered  his  situation 
tolerable.  He  is  sometimes  very  pleasant  and  sportive  in 
his  letters  to  Anna  Snyed ;  and  in  a  measure,  seems  to 
have  overcome  his  dislike  to  the  occupation  of  a  merchant. 
He  says  : — 

"  I  no  longer  see  it  in  so  disadvantageous  a  light.  In- 
stead of  figuring  a  merchant  as  a  middle-aged  man,  with 
a  bob  wig,  a  rough  beard,  in  snuff-colored  clothes,  grasp- 
ing a  guinea  in  his  red  hand  ;  I  conceive  a  comely  young 
man,  with  a  tolerable  pig-tail,  wielding  a  pen  with  all  the 
noble  fierceness  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  brandishing 
a  truncheon  on  a  sign-post,  surrounded  with  types  and 
emblems,  and  canopied  with  cornucopias  that  disembogue 
their  stores  upon  his  head  ;  Mercurys  reclined  upon  bales 
of  goods  ;  Genii  playing  with  pens,  ink  and  paper ;  while 
in  perspective  his  gorgeous  vessels,  "  launched  on  the 
bosom  of  the  silver  Thames,"  are  wafting  to  distant  lands 
the  produce  of  this  commercial  nation.  Thus  all  the 
mercantile  glories  crowd  my  fancy,  emblazoned  in  the 
most  refulgent  coloring  of  an  ardent  imagination.  I  see 
sumptuous  palaces  rising  to  receive  me ;  I  see  orphans, 
and  widows,  and  painters,  and  poets,  and  musicians,  and 
builders ,  protected  and  encouraged  ;  and  when  the  fabric 
is  pretty  nearly  finished  in  my  shattered  pericranium,  I 
cast  my  eyes  around,  and  find  John  Andre,  by  a  small 
coal  fire  in  Warnford  Court ;  not  so  tall  as  he  has  been 
making  himself,  and  in  all  probability,  never  to  be  much 
more  than  he  is  at  present.  But  oh  !  my  dear  Honora  ! 
it  is  for  thy  sake  only  I  wish  for  wealth  ! " 

In  the  mercantile  business  he  spent  a  number  of  years, 
alternately  relieving  his  mind  from  the  tediousness  of  his 
employment,  by  visiting  his  friends  at  Claptan,  and  his 
dear  Honora  at  Litchfield.  But  alas  !  misfortune  had 


137 

marked  him  for  her  prey.  His  Utopian  castle,  which  his 
"  ardent  imagination  "  had  reared  with  such  enthusiasm, 
vanished  from  his  view  ;  and  left  him  wretched,  although 
not  entirely  hopeless.  To  Honora's  father,  Maj.  Andre 
had  never  been  a  great  favorite,  after  his  attentions  to 
his  daughter ;  for  what  reason,  is  not  known ;  but,  prob- 
ably, because  he  concluded  Andre's  turn  of  mind  was  illy 
calculated  for  the  acquirement  of  property ;  at  any  rate, 
after  using  his  influence  to  dissolve  the  connection  without 
success,  he  exerted  his  parental  authority  and  accomplished 
his  purpose,  but  at  the  expense  of  the  happiness  of  his 
daughter,  and  her  noble,  gallant  Andre !  Four  years 
after  this  event,  Honora  was  induced  to  marry  another 
gentleman ;  but  was  melancholy  and  unhappy,  and  died 
of  consumption  a  few  months  previous  to  the  execution 
of  Maj.  Andre  in  America. 

When  the  match  was  thus  authoritatively  broken  off, 
Maj.  Andre  obtained  a  commission  in  the  British  army, 
served  a  while  in  Germany,  and  then  came  to  America 
early  in  the  revolutionary  war.  In  time,  he  was  appointed 
by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  Adjutant-General,  with  the  rank  of 
Major,  and  became  a  great  favorite  with  officers  and  sol- 
diers of  the  British  army. 

In  1780  Gen.  Arnold  had  communications  with  the 
British  officers  for  the  purpose  of  surrendering  into  their 
hands  West  Point,  the  strongest  fortress  in  America ;  in 
which  were  deposited  supplies  for  the  army,  and  which 
completely  guarded  the  pass  of  the  Hudson  river,  through 
the  Highlands.  To  accomplish  this,  the  British  sloop  of 
war,  Vulture,  commanded  by  Capt.  Sutherland,  came 
up  the  river  to  Haverstraw  Bay,  about  twenty  miles  from 
West  Point,  with  Col.  Beverly  Robinson,  an  American 
who  adhered  to  the  royal  cause,  and  Maj.  Andre.  To  ef- 
fect a  meeting,  Gen.  Arnold  sent  Joshua  H.  Smith,  who 
resided  near  the  bay,  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  Vulture 
18 


138 

in  the  night.  The  object  was  to  effect  a  meeting  on  shore 
between  Maj.  Andre  and  Arnold;  but,  to  blind  Smith, 
the  request  was  made  for  Col.  Robinson.  When  Smith 
arrived  at  the  Vulture,  and  delivered  his  message  to  Rob- 
inson, he  excused  himself  from  meeting  Arnold  on  account 
of  ill  health,  and  introduced  to  him  Maj.  Andre,  under 
the  assumed  name  of  Anderson,  and  said  all  the  purposes 
could  be  effected  by  his  going  ashore  instead  of  himself. 
The  place  of  interview  was  at  the  foot  of  Long  Clove 
Mountain,  on  the  Western  shore  ;  and  on  the  arrival  of 
Smith  and  Maj.  Andre,  they  found  Gen.  Arnold  among 
the  fir  trees.  Arnold  pretended  to  be  vexed  and  disap- 
pointed at  not  seeing  Col.  Robinson  ;  but  requested  Mr. 
Smith  to  stay  with  the  hands  at  the  boat  while  he  confer- 
red with  Mr.  Anderson.  Smith  staid  till  the  dawn  of 
day,  and  then  thought  it  prudent  to  apprise  them  of  it. 
Soon  after,  they  both  came  down  to  the  beach,  and  Arnold 
requested  Smith  to  conduct  Mr.  Anderson  on  board  the 
Vulture.  But  as  the  distance  was  so  great,  and  the 
hands  fatigued,  and  as  it  would  be  impossible  to  go  and 
return  before  sunrise,  he  refused.  Smith  accordingly  re- 
turned the  boat  to  the  place  where  he  had  embarked,  and 
Arnold  and  Andre,  mounted  on  horseback,  rode  up  to 
Smith's  house.  When  Smith  arrived  at  the  place  to  leave 
the  boat,  he  observed  a  cannonading  from  Gallows  Point 
against  the  Vulture,  which  compelled  her  to  drop  down 
the  river.  When  he  arrived  at  his  own  house,  he  found 
that  Andre  and  Arnold  had  arrived  long  before,  and  ap- 
peared vexed  that  the  ship  had  been  compelled  to  leave 
her  position.  After  breakfast,  Smith  retired  to  recover 
from  the  fatigues  of  the  night,  for  he  was  in  ill  health, 
and  left  Arnold  and  Andre  the  greater  part  of  the  day 
together.  Towards  evening  Arnold  came  to  him  and  re- 
quested that  he  should  convey  Mr.  Anderson  to  the  Vul- 
ture, which  had  then  nearly  regained  its  former  position. 


139 

But,  as  Smith  had  then  an  ague  fit  upon  him,  he  was  un- 
able to  comply.  Arnold  then  requested  him  to  accom- 
pany him  a  part  of  the  way  to  New  York,  by  land,  when 
his  ague  fit  left  him.  To  this  he  made  no  objection.  Soon 
after,  Arnold  said  a  difficulty  had  occurred,  of  which  he 
was  not  before  apprised  :  Mr.  Anderson  had  come  ashore 
in  military  dress,  and  as  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to 
travel  in  that  dress,  he  requested  a  loan  of  one  of  Smith's 
coats ;  the  other  part  of  his  dress  required  no  change. 
Smith  accordingly  furnished  a  coat ;  and  Arnold,  having 
given  a  pass  to  Maj.  Andre,  by  the  name  of  John  Ander- 
son, to  go  to  White  Plains  ;  and  Smith,  with  a  flag  of 
truce  to  go  there  and  return,  left  them  and  returned  to 
.West  Point.  Andre  appeared  disconsolate  and  sad,  and 
Smith  tried  to  amuse  him  by  showing  him  from  the  top  of 
his  house  the  beautiful  prospect  over  the  capacious  bay 
and  the  opposite  shore  ;  but  he  cast  an  anxious  look  to- 
wards the  Vulture,  and  with  a  sigh  wished  himself  safely 
aboard. 

At  length,  Smith,  finding  himself  better,  ordered  the 
horses,  and  they  reached  the  ferry  at  Stony  Point  before 
dark.  They  called  at  the  Sutlers'  and  drank  with  them, 
then  crossed  the  river  and  rode  on  five  or  six  miles,  when 
they  were  challenged  by  a  patrol  party.  The  command- 
ing officer  demanded  a  countersign,  and  a  reason  for  their 
travelling  in  the  night.  Smith  told  him  they  had  pass- 
ports from  Gen.  Arnold,  which  they  had  that  day  re- 
ceived ;  that  they  were  on  public  business  of  the  utmost 
importance,  and  that  he  would  be  answerable  for  their  de- 
tention a  moment.  On  coining  to  a  light,  they  presented 
their  passports,  and  satisfied  the  officer.  He,  however, 
advised  them  not  to  proceed  {n  the  night,  as  patroling 
parties  of  both  armies  were  out,  and  there  was  little 
chance  of  avoiding  them  ;  ana  added,  he  had  heard  a 
firing  a  few  minutes  before  meeting;  them.  Alarmed  at 


140 

this  intelligence,  they  concluded  to  go  no  further  that 
night,  although  Andre  was  anxious  to  proceed.  They  re- 
turned a  short  distance  and  obtained  lodgings. 

They  both  slept  in  the  same  bed,  and  Smith  was  often 
disturbed  by  the  restless  motions  and  uneasiness  of  mind 
exhibited  by  his  bed-fellow,  who,  on  observing  the  first 
dawn  of  day,  summoned  the  servant  to  prepare  the  horses 
for  their  departure.  They  rode  cheerfully  towards  Pine's 
bridge,  over  Croton  river,  a  branch  of  the  Hudson,  with- 
out interruption ;  and  as  they  were  passing  along,  the 
countenance  of  Andre  brightened  into  a  cheerful  serenity  ; 
he  became  affable,  and  displayed  a  knowledge  in  the  belles 
lettres,  music,  painting,  poetry,  and  general  history,  be- 
yond what  his  companion  had  any  idea  he  possessed.  So 
fine  was  the  morning,  so  pleasant  the  converse,  and  so 
rich  the  scenery  around  them,  they  became  insensible  of 
time  and  distance,  and  were  surprised  to  find  themselves 
so  soon  at  the  bridge  ;  the  contemplated  place  of  their 
separation.  After  breakfasting  at  a  low  Dutch  house  near 
the  bridge  ;  and  after  Smith  had  given  his  companion  the 
necessary  directions  of  his  route  to  the  White  Plains,  on 
crossing  the  bridge  ;  they  took  an  affecting  leave  of  each 
other,  and  Smith  returned  to  his  family  in  safety. 

Andre,  on  arriving  at  the  fork  of  the  roads,  concluded 
the  one  by  the  White  Plains  would  be  circuitous  to  go  to 
New  York,  and  having  a  good  horse,  he  boldly  ventured 
to  take  the  other  down  the  river.  He  had  proceeded  about 
six  miles,  when  he  was  stopped  in  a  narrow  part  of  the 
road  near  Tarrytown,  by  three  New  York  militia-men, 
John  Paulding,  David  Williams,  and  Isaac  Van  Vest, 
who  were  on  a  scouting  party  between  the  outposts  of  the 
two  armies.  One  of  them  having  seized  his  horse  by  the 
bridle,  Andre,  instead  of  producing  his  passport,  asked 
where  they  belonged  to.  They  answered,  "  To  below." 
Xot  suspecting  deception,  he  replied,  "  So  do  I;"  and 


141 

declaring;  himself  a  British  officer,  entreated  that  he  might 

O  O 

not  be  detained,  as  he  was  on  pressing  business  !  On 
finding  himself  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  he  offered 
them  a  valuable  gold  watch  to  let  him  pass  ;  but  this  led 
to  further  suspicion  ;  they,  therefore,  took  him  aside  into 
the  bushes,  and  searching  him,  found  his  papers  lodged 
in  one  of  his  boots  !  The  captors  then  took  him  to  Col. 
Jamison,  where  he  still  passed  under  the  name  of  Ander- 
son ;  and  with  a  view  of  providing  for  the  safety  of  Gen. 
Arnold,  requested  permission  to  send  a  line  to  inform  him 
of  his  detention.  Astonishing  as  it  may  appear,  his  re- 
quest was  granted.  Maj.  Andre's  messenger  arrived  at 
Gen.  Arnold's  lodgings,  (which  were  then,  at  the  house 
formerly  occupied  by  Col.  Robinson,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river  from  West  Point,  and  a  short  distance  from 
the  shore,)  before  the  messenger  Col.  Jamison  despatched 
to  Gen.  Washington  with  Andre's  papers,  and  also  a  letter 
from  Andre,  disclosing  his  real  name  and  his  rank  in  the 
British  army,  arrived.  Gen.  Arnold,  on  the  receipt  of 
the  letter,  seized  the  messenger's  horse,  rode  furiously 
down  a  precipice,  almost  perpendicular,  to. the  river, 
jumped  into  a  boat,  and  ordered  the  hands  to  row  down 
to  the  Vulture  ;  but  he  had  scarcely  passed  Vcrplank's 
Point,  when  Col.  Hamilton  arrived  with  orders  to  stop 
him  ;  for  about  the  time  Washington  reached  Robinson's 
house,  on  his  return  from  Hartford,  the  packet  from  Col. 
Jamison  arrived. 

Maj.  Andre  was  captured  on  the  23d  of  September, 
1780  ;  and  conducted  by  a  strong  guard  to  Robinson's 
house,  where  he  was  examined  by  Gen.  Washington  ;  he 
was  then  conducted  by  water  to  Stony  Point,  and  by  land 
to  Orange  Town,  or  Tappan.  On  the  25th  of  September, 
Gen.  Washington  appointed  a  board  of  fourteen  general 
officers  to  examine  into  Maj.  Andre's  case,  and  report  in 
what  light  he  was  to  be  considered,  and  to  what  punish- 


142 

ment  liable.  Maj.  Andre,  before  the  board  of  officers, 
nobly  disdaining  to  shield  himself  under  any  evasive  sub- 
terfuge, and  solely  anxious  to  place  his  character  in  the 
fairest  point  of  view,  voluntarily  declared  even  more  than 
was  required ;  and  palliated  nothing  in  which  he  himself 
had  been  concerned.  No  witnesses  were  examined  before 
the  board ;  and  after  taking  time  for  consideration,  they 
concluded  to  report,  although  it  is  said  not  unanimously  : 
"  that  Maj.  John  Andre,  Adjutant- General  of  the 
British  army,  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  spy  from  the 
enemy,  and  that,  agreeably  to  the  law  and  usage  of 
nations,  he  ought  to  suffer  death"  After  this  report  of 
the  Court  of  Inquiry  was  known,  the  British  officers  used 
every  possible  exertion  that  ingenuity  could  invent,  to 
snatch  the  gallant  Andre  from  his  impending  fate  ;  flags 
of  truce  were  continually  passing  and  repassing  between 
the  armies ;  letters  were  written  in  the  most  masterly 
manner,  calculated  to  touch  the  feelings  of  Gen.  Wash- 
ington ;  conferences  were  held  between  the  officers  of  the 
opposing  armies,  &c.,  &c.  ;  but  all,  all  proved  unavail- 
ing !  Andre,  understanding  that  his  fate  was  fixed,  and 
the  mode  of  his  death,  addressed  a  letter  to  Gen.  Wash- 
ington, in  which  he  says  :  "  Let  me  hope,  sir,  that  if 
aught  in  my  character  impresses  you  with  esteem  towards 
me  ;  if  aught  in  my  misfortunes  marks  me  as  the  victim 
of  policy,  and  not  of  resentment,  I  shall  experience  the 
operations  of  these  feelings  in  your  breast,  by  being  in- 
formed I  am  not  to  die  on  a  gibbet  "  As  the  mode  of  his 
execution  was  determined  on,  the  feelings  of  Maj.  Andre 
were  spared,  by  not  answering  this  letter.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  2d  of  October,  the  unfortunate  Andre  was  led 
forth  to  the  place  of  execution.  As  he  passed  along,  the 
American  army  were  astonished  at  the  dignity  of  his 
deportment ;  anS  the  manly  complacency  of  countenance 
which  bespoke  the  serene  composure  of  his  mind.  The 


143 

scene  was  overwhelming ;  every  heart  throbbed  with  an- 
guish, while  tears  of  sensibility  flowed  from  every  eye. 
He  bowed  to  those  he  had  known  during  his  confinement ; 
and  coming  in  view  of  the  fatal  spot,  and  seeing  the 
preparations  for  his  execution,  he  stopped,  as  if  absorbed 
in  thought ;  then  quickly  turning  to  the  officer  next  him, 
exclaimed — ' '  What !  must  I  die  in  this  manner  ?  "  Being 
told  it  was  so  ordered,  he  instantly  said,  "I  am  reconciled, 
and  submit  to  my  fate,  but  deplore  the  mode — it  will  be 
but  a  momentary  pang  ;  "  and  proceeding  with  calmness, 
mounted  the  scaffold,  adjusted  the  fatal  cord  himself, 
and  requested  the  surrounding  spectators  to  bear  witness 
to  the  world,  THAT  HE  DIED  LIKE  A  BRAVE  MAN.  His 
body  was  interred  in  an  open  field,  near  the  place  of  his 
execution ;  a  consecrated  spot,  where  friends  and  foes 
mingle  their  sorrows,  and  together  deplore  the  untimely 
exit  of  a  man  possessed  of  such  rare  accomplishments, 
fascinating  manners,  and  nobleness  of  mind.  His  name 
is  immortal,  not  only  as  being  connected  with  the  great 
events  of  the  revolution,  but  as  it  exhibited  to  the  world 
a  character  truly  amiable  and  heroic,  and  universally  ad- 
mired by  adversaries  and  friends. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 

On  the  second  day  of  October,  1879,  Cyrus  W.  Field 
erected  a  shaft  at  Tappan,  N.  Y. ,  to  mark  the  spot  where 
Maj.  Andre  suffered  the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law,  Oct. 
2d,  1780.  It  stands  in  the  old  orchard  on  Andre  Hill,  in 
Rockland  County,  near  the  village  of  Tappan.  The 
workmen  had  placed  the  shaft  in  position,  and  it  was  un- 
covered at  noon,  the  same  hour  that  Andre  was  hanged. 
Not  more  than  twenty  persons  were  present,  and  not  a 
word  was  spoken  by  any  one. 

The  shaft  is  of  Maine  granite,  and  is  3£  feet  square 
and  5  feet  in  height.  It  stands  on  two  granite  stones  as 


144 

bases,  which  in  turn  rest  on  a  heavy  stone  foundation 
under  ground.  There  is  no  ornamentation,  the  smooth 
and  glistening  surface  being  relieved  only  by  inscriptions 
in  the  most  modest  lettering.  On  the  side  toward  the 
West  the  longest  inscription  is  carved,  as  follows  : 

Here  died,  Oct.  2,  1780,  MAJOR  JOHN  ANDRE,  of  the 
British  Army ;  who,  on  entering  the  American  lines  on  a 
secret  mission  to  Benedict  Arnold  for  the  surrender  of 
West  Point,  was  taken  prisoner,  tried  and  condemned  as 
a  spy.  His  death,  though  according  to  the  stern  code  of 
war,  moved  even  his  enemies  to  pity,  and  both  armies 
mourned  the  fate  of  one  so  young  and  so  brave.  In  1821 
his  remains  were  received  at  Westminster  Abbey.  One 
hundred  years  after  his  execution,  this  stone  was  placed 
above  the  spot  where  he  lay,  by  a  citizen  of  the  States 
against  which  he  fought,  not  to  perpetuate  the  record  of 
strife,  but  in  token  of  those  better  feelings  which  have 
since  united  two  nations  one  in  race,  in  language  and  in 
religion,  with  the  earnest  hope  that  this  friendly  union 
will  never  be  broken. 

Beneath  was  the  name, — 

"Arthur  Penrhyn  Stanley,  Dean  of  Westminster." 
On  the  South  side  the  inscription  reads  as  follows  : — 
"  Sunt  Lacrymse  rerum  et  mentem  mortalia  tangunt." 

—Virgil,  ^Eneid  I,  462. 

The  only  other  inscription  is  upon  the  North  side,  and 
is  this  : — 

' '  He  was  more  unfortunate  than  criminal ; 
An  accomplished  man,  and  a  gallant  officer." 

— George  Washington. 

An  inscription  will  be  placed  on  the  East  side  next 
year,  the  centennial  of  the  execution. 

This  Andre  shaft  stands  on  a  high  elevation,  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  from  the  Hudson,  and  not  more  than 
thirty  yards  from  the  New  Jersey  line,  overlooking  a 
beautiful  country.  Mr.  Field  has  bought  thirteen  acres 


145 

of  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  running  to,  but  not 
crossing,  the  New  Jersey  line.  He  purposes  to  convert 
this  property  into  a  park,  with  two  entrances,  and  car- 
riage-ways leading  to  a  circular  drive  around  the  shaft, 
which  will  be  surrounded  by  an  iron  railing.  It  is  stated 
that  when  completed  he  will  present  the  property  to  the 
citizens  of  Tappan.  Four  trees,  two  English  arid  two 
American,  either  oak  or  elm,  will  be  planted  at  the  cardi- 
nal points  around  the  monument. 

Some  doubts  have  been  raised  as  to  the  exact  spot 
where  Andre  was  buried,  but  Mr.  Field  entertains  no 
doubt  that  he  has  selected  the  right  place.  David  D. 
Brower,  John  H.  Cutwater,  and  John  J.  Griffith,  old 
residents  of  Tappan,  agree  that  the  spot  now  marked  by 
the  shaft  is  the  exact  spot  where  they  saw  Andre's  remains 
exhumed  in  1821,  when  the  British  Government  sent  the 
Duke  of  York  to  America  to  convey  them  to  their  resting 
place  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

The  members  of  the  party  from  New  York  were  the 
guests  of  Mr.  Whittemore,  and  in  his  company  visited  the 
old  mansion  used  by  Washington  as  his  headquarters,  in 
the  parlor  of  which  he  signed  Andre's  death  warrant,  the 
Maby  Tavern  or  "  '76  Stone  House,"  in  which  Andre  was 
confined  during  his  trial  and  from  which  he  walked  to  his 
execution,  the  site  of  the  church  in  which  Andre  was  tried, 
and  the  camping  ground  of  the  hostile  armies. 


19 


140 


CAPT.   NATHAN  HALE. 


It  is  said  that  Mr.  Field  intends  to  erect  a  shaft  to  the 
memory  of  Capt.  Nathan  Hale  of  the  Continental  army, 
on  the  spot  where  he  was  executed  as  a  spy  by  the  British 
in  1776.  That  place  is  said  to  be  on  the  public  grounds 
near  Hamilton  Park,  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The 
execution  of  Capt.  Hale  was  four  years  previous  to  that 
of  Maj.  Andre,  and  the  circumstances  attending  it  are  in 
strong  contrast  with  each  other ;  although  between  the 
two  men  there  seems  to  have  been  a  striking  resemblance. 
Both  died  in  the  full  vigor  of  early  manhood  :  Hale  was 
aged  21,  and  Andre  29  years. 

Hale  was  born  in  Coventry,  Ct.,  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1755,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  with  distinction  in 
September,  1773  ;  and  like  Andre  had  wooed  and  won  a 
fair  lady  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen.  And  in  person 
there  was  a  strong  resemblance,  while  in  mind,  manners 
and  acquirements,  they  were  on  a  par  with  each  other. 
After  Hale  left  college,  he  became  a  school  teacher,  and 
was  universally  beloved  and  popular,  both  with  parents 
and  pupils.  A  lady  of  his  acquaintance  said:  "Every- 
body loved  him,  he  was  so  sprightly,  intelligent  and  kind, 
and  so  handsome." 

He  was  teaching  school  at  New  London,  Ct.,  when  an 
express  arrived  bringing  tidings  of  the  battles  of  Lexing- 
ton and  Concord.  A  town  meeting  was  held,  and  young 
Hale  was  one  of  the  most  ardent  speakers.  He  urged  an 
instant  march  to  the  scene  of  hostilities,  and  offered  to 
enlist  himself.  He  writes  to  his  father:  "A  sense  of 


147 

duty  urges  me  to  sacrifice  everything  for  my  country." 
He  went  at  once,  and  served  as  lieutenant  in  the  army 
before  Boston  ;  and  prevailed  on  his  men  to  extend  their 
enlistment,  by  giving  them  his  own  pay.  For  his  good 
conduct,  he  received  from  Congress  a  commission  as 
Captain. 

He  was  attached  to  Col.  Knowlton's  regiment ;  and 
after  the  disastrous  battle  of  Long  Island,  Gen.  Washing- 
ton applied  to  that  officer  for  a  competent  person  to  pene- 
trate the  enemy's  camp,  and  learn  the  condition  of  the 
British  army.  The  patriotic  Hale  promptly  volunteered 
to  perform  that  perilous  task,  though  fully  aware  of  the 
consequences  if  captured. 

In  the  character  of  a  school-master,  he  crossed  the 
Sound  from  Norwalk  to  Huntington,  on  Long  Island  ; 
visited  the  British  encampments  unsuspected,  made  draw- 
ings of  their  works,  and  took  notes  in  Latin.  This  com- 
pleted, he  turned  his  steps  to  Huntington,  where  a  boat 
from  the  American  shore  was  to  meet  him  and  convey  him 
back  to  Connecticut.  Unfortunately,  a  British  guard  ship 
was  anchored  round  a  point  out  of  sight,  and  had  sent  a 
boat  ashore  for  water.  It  being  the  time  and  place  of  the 
expected  boat,  young  Hale  stepped  aboard  of  the  British 
boat,  and  found  himself  a  prisoner.  He  was  searched, 
and  his  papers  were  found  in  the  soles  of  his  shoes,  which 
clearly  proved  him  to  be  a  spy.  He  was  taken  to  the 
headquarters  of  General  Howe,  in  New  York  city,  and, 
after  a  brief  parley  with  a  court  martial,  was  ordered  for 
execution  the  next  morning  at  daybreak  !  He  asked  for  a 
Bible,  but  the  infamous  Cunningham  refused  the  request, 
and  seized  and  destroyed  a  letter  he  had  written  to  his 
mother;  and  said,  "The  rebels  shall  never  know  they 
have  a  man  who  Ciin  die  with  such  firmness."  But  his 
patriotic  spirit  shone  forth  in  his  dying  words  — ' '  I  only 
regret  that  I  have  but  one  life  to  lose  for  my  country." 


148 

Now,  here  are  two  men,  guilty  of  the  same  offence  ac- 
cording to  martial  law,  and  both  suifered  the  same  pen- 
alty ;  but  how  unlike  the  circumstances  attending  their 
execution  !  Maj.  Andre  was  granted  all  the  privileges 
compatible  with  his  situation,  and  died  lamented  by  both 
armies  ;  Capt.  Hale  was  executed  in  hot  haste,  denied  all 
grantable  privileges  ;  cursed  while  living,  and  execrated 
when  dead  !  If  British  officers  could  take  any  pleasure 
in  such  enormities,  no  decent  man  will  envy  them  their 
feelings. 

In  the  present  state  of  society,  wars,  more  or  less,  will 
exist,  and  efficient,  but  merciful,  generals  or  command- 
ing officers  will  be  needed ;  but  we  may  be  thankful  that 
some  improvement  has  been  made,  both  in  the  criminal 
code  and  martial  law.  The  ancients  crucified  criminals, 
and  enslaved,  or  tortured  and  put  to  death  prisoners  taken 
in  war.  Now,  criminals  are  executed  without  needless 
pain  ;  and  prisoners  taken  in  war  are  exchanged,  or  set  at 
liberty  on  parole,  and  permitted  to  return  to  their  own 
homes  again.  To  prevent  wars,  strong  but  just  govern- 
ments are  needed.  Well  it  may  be  asked,  why  are  there 
no  Indian  wars  in  Canada?  Simply  this, — the  strong 
government  there  renders  it  impossible  for  lawless  back- 
woodsmen to  exist.  The  Indians  have  rights  there  which 
white  men  are  bound  to  respect.  If  such  power  were  ex- 
erted on  this  side  of  the  line,  there  would  be  no  more  In- 
dian wars  in  the  United  States. 

It  may  sometimes  be  needful  to  spy  out  an  enemy's 
camp,  but  a  commander  does  not  seem  justified  in  induc- 
ing any  one  to  enter  upon  such  a  perilous  undertaking. 
Better  employ  balloons,  as  was  done  in  the  last  German 
and  French  war.  But  war  is  a  savage  operation  at  best ; 
and  as  brute  force  is  not  argument,  and  settles  nothing,  it 
is  time  that  wars  should  cease,  by  the  universal  consent  of 

all  mankind. 

FINIS. 


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